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0) 


ST.    JOHN'S    UNIVERSITY 


COLLEGEVILLE,    MINNESOTA. 


A  SKETCH  OF  ITS  HISTORY 


ALEiiaS  HOFF/^ANN, 
o.  s.  B. 


SUPERIORUM   PerMISSU. 


F^EeOF^D     PRESS,     CObbEGEVIbbE.     MINNESOT/r,      1907. 


c 


?5 


5^  I'b^-- 


PREFACE, 


The  following  pages  })retend  to  be  no  more  than  a  sketch, 
in  the  form  of  annals,  of  the  history  of  St.  John's.  As 
such  it  is  merely  a  compilation  of  events  that  will  serve  as 
working  material  for  the  future  historian.  Most  of  the 
information  was  drawn  from  the  annual  catalogues,  the 
first  of  w-hich  was  published  in  1870;  from  the  files  of 
newspapers,  such  as  Dcr  Wanderer^  of  St.  Paul,  and  the 
St.  Cloud  Daily  Times;  from  the  St.  Jolni's  University 
Record ,  private  diaries  and  personal  recollections.  If 
many  of  the  happv'^nings  chronicled  do  not  rise  to  the 
dignity  of  historical  events,  the  writer's  excuse  is  that  he 
has  addressed  himself  primarily  to  the  alumni  of  the  insti- 
tution, to  whom  the  daily  doings  of  college  life  are  as  in- 
teresting as  the  larger  facts  of  history.  For  this  reason  too 
the  forms  of  annals  was  chosen  as  a  dress  for  the  narrative. 

A.  H. 


I 


^ 

i. 


I  1 08^ ' 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Beginnings  —  The  St.  Cloud  Priory  —  Transfers  —  Final 
Location,  1856-67 1 

Prior  Cornelius  Wittmann 7 

"     Benedict  Haindl 10 

"     Othmar  Wirz 13 

CHAPTER    II. 

Reconstruction  —  Schoolyears  1867  -1875. 

1867-68 19 

1868-69 26 

1869-70 29 

1870-71 85 

1871-72 37 

1872-73 39 

1873-74 43 

1874-75 46 

CHAPTER     III. 

The  Second  Abbot  and  President  1875-89. 

1875-76 50 

1876-77 53 

1877-78 55 

1878-79 57 

1879-80 59 

1880-81 61 

1881-82 : 64 

1882-83 68 

1883-84 72 

1884-85 74 

1885-86 78 

1886-87 82 

1887-88 85 

1888-89 90 


cox  TENTS. 

CHAPTER    IV. 
The  A'htiinistnitiori  of  Abbot  Bernard  Lociiikar  1890-1894. 

1889-90 94 

1890-91 97 

1891-92 100 

1892-98 102 

1893-94 104 

CHAPTER     V. 

The  Administration  of  Abbot  Peter   Engel   from    1894   to 
the  Present  Time. 

1894-95 108 

1895-9() 113 

1896-97 115 

1 897-98 117 

1898-99 119 

1899-1900 .121 

1900-01 123 

1901-02 120 

1902-03 129 

1903-04 131 

1904-05. 133 

1905-06 135 

1906-07 139 

CHAPTER    VI. 

College  Organizations. 

I.  Religious 142 

II.  Literary 145 

III.  Musical 148 

IV.  Athletic 149 

V.  Alumni  Association 152 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Conclusion 1 55 


CHAPTER  I. 

Beginnings  —  The  St.  Cloud  Priory  —  Transfers  — 
Final  Location.  —  1856  -  67. 

When,  about  the  middle  of  last  century,  that  part  of 
central  Minnesota  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi  was  thrown 
open  for  settlement,  such  a  stream  of  settlers  poured  in 
that  in  a  short  time  the  face  of  the  primitive  wilderness 
was  changed.  The  Indian  tribes  had  been  induced  to 
move  northward  and  their  former  hunting-grounds  were 
soon  transformed  into  smiling  fields ;  roads  were  constructed 
across  country;  stage  routes  afforded  facilities  for  travel 
by  land  and  small  steamboats  passed  up  and  down  the 
Mississippi  river  between  Minneapolis  and  St.  Cloud. 

A  great  number  of  the  immigrants  who  arrived  in  1854 
and  '55  were  Germans  and  Catholics,  and  their  spiritual 
care  at  once  became  an  important  subject  of  attention.  In 
all  the  northern  part  of  the  Territory  of  Minnesota  there 
was  at  the  time  but  one  priest,  the  late  Rev.  F.  Pierz, 
(fl880  at  the  age  of  ninety  five  years)  who,  in  addition  to 
ministering  to  the  Indians  in  the  northern  and  eastern 
parts  of  the  Territory,  was  commissioned  by  the  bishop  of 
St.  Paul,  Msgr.  J.  Cretin  (f  1857),  to  visit  the  German 
settlements  in  Stearns  County.  It  was  a  laborious  task 
for  an  old  man  who  had  already  reached  the  age  of  three-score 
and  ten,  for  he  lived  at  Crow  Wing  on  the  upper  Mississip- 
pi and  could  avail  himself  of  no  traveling  facilities  what- 
ever for  his  missionary  journeys.  Like  a  true  apostle,  he 
went  afoot  and  sought  for  the  members  of  his  scattered 
flock  in  the  forests  and  on  the  prairies,  offered  them  the 

1 


2  St.    John's    University 

consolation  of  religion,  and  from  the  storehouse  of  his  ex- 
perience gave  them  valuable  guidance  for  their  temporal 
pursuits  as  well.  To  him  the  settlement  of  Stearns  and 
several  other  counties  is  chiefly  due.  In  the  year  1855 
he  held  services  at  St.  Cloud,  St.  Joseph,  St.  James,  Rich- 
mond (Torah)  etc.  and  at  the  two  places  first  named,  he 
organized  congregations.  The  work  now  exceeded  his 
powers  and  he  yearned  to  return  to  the  Indians  to  whose 
interests  he  had  consecrated  his  life.  Hence  he  appealed 
to  the  bishop  of  St.  Paul  to  secure  German  priests  for  the 
new  settlements. 

Ten  years  earlier,  in  1846,  Rev.  Boniface  Wimmer  — 
who  must  be  recognized  as  the  actual  founder  of  the  insti- 
tution we  are  about  to  describe  —  had  come  from  the 
ancient  monastery  of  Metten  in  Bavaria  to  the  United 
States  and  had  founded  the  Benedictine  monastery  of  St. 
Vincent's  in  Pennsylvania.  Believing  that  the  venerable 
Order  which  he  had  transplanted  upon  American  soil  was 
destined  to  exercise  an  apostolate  in  the  interests  of  reli- 
gion, civilization  and  education  as  it  had  done  so  glorious- 
ly for  many  centuries  in  Europe  until  its  activity  was 
crippled  by  pernicious  legislation,  he  accepted  an  invita- 
tion of  the  Bishop  of  St.  Paul,  to  send  some  priests  for  the 
northern  part  of  the  St.  Paul  diocese  and  eventually  to 
found  a  house  of  the  Order  in  that  diocese. 

Early  in  April,  1856,  a  small  missionary  band,  composed 
of  the  Very  Rev.  Demetrius  Marogna,  Frs.  Cornelius  Witt- 
mann  and  Bruno  Riss,  both  clerics  in  Minor  Orders  who 
had  just  completed  their  studies,  and  two  lay  brothers, 
Benno  Muckenthaler  and  Patrick  Greil,  set  out  from  St. 
Vincent's  and  after  a  tedious  journey  by  steamboat  down 
the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi,  arrived  in  St.  Paul  on 
May  2. 

P.  Demetrius,  to  whom  the  direction  of  the  enterprise 
was  entrusted,  was  descended  from  a  noble  family  in  the 
northern  part  of  Italy  and  was  born  September  17,  1802  at 
Villa  Lagarina,  in  the  southern  part  of  Tyrol.     After  the 


St.    John's    University  8 

war  of  1809,  the  Count  de  Marogna  left  Tyrol  with  his 
family  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Bavaria,  where  the 
young  Count  Charles  —  the  subject  of  this  sketch  —  re- 
ceived an  education  suitable  to  his  station  and  rank.  While 
pursuing  his  studies,  he  began  to  realize  the  emptiness  of 
a  purely  worldly  career  and  resolved  to  devote  himself  to 
the  sacred  ministry.  Having  finished  a  seminary  course 
in  Mayence,  he  was  ordained  a  priest  in  1824  and  during 
the  following  twenty-three  years  served  as  pastor  in  the 
dioceses  of  Mayence  and  Augsburg. 

In  1847  he  left  Bavaria  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
life  in  the  missions  of  the  United  States  where,  as  he  had 
learned  from  periodicals  and  newspapers,  there  was  a 
scarcity  of  priests,  especially  in  the  German  settlements 
in  the  middle  and  western  States.  The  first  scene  of  his 
labors  was  western  Illinois  —  Germantown  and  vicinity, 
where  he  served  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  bishop  of 
Chicago  till  1852.  To  his  serious  and  reflecting  mind,  the 
perils  of  missionary  life  were  too  great  and  he  concluded 
to  retire  from  the  missions  into  monastic  seclusion.  He 
entered  the  novitiate  of  St.  Vincent's,  Pa.  in  1852  and  in 
less  than  two  years  from  that  time  he  found  himself  eleva- 
ted to  the  office  of  Prior  of  that  monastery,  a  position 
which  he  occupied  during  a  critical  period  and  which  he 
resigned  when  he  was  chosen  to  organize  an  establishment 
of  the  Order  in  distant  Minnesota. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  colony  in  St.  Paul,  the 
two  clerics,  Fr.  Cornelius  and  Fr.  Bruno,  were  ordained 
priests.  On  May  20,  the  party  arrived  in  Sauk  Rapids 
and  on  the  following  day  for  the  first  time  visited  St.  Cloud, 
the  county  seat  of  Stearns  County.  This  county  was 
organized  in  the  winter  of  1854-55  and  at  the  time  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Benedictines,  St.  Cloud  was  the  only  village 
which  it  could  boast.  Some  slight  beginnings  had  been 
made  here  as  early  as  1852,  it  appears,  but  the  place  first 
began  to  attract  attention  in  1854  and  '55,  when  settlers 
from  Indiana  and  other  middle  States  made   their   homes 


4  St.    John's    University 

on  the  present  site  of  the  city. 

At  that  time  there  lived  on  two  claims  near  the  river 
and  about  2  miles  south  of  St.  Clond,  two  brothers,  Louis 
and  William  Kothkopp,  both  single  and  well  advanced  in 
years.  Prompted,  probably,  by  a  desire  to  encourage  the 
establishment  of  a  house  of  the  Order  near  St.  Cloud,  they 
had  made  an  offer  of  their  claims  (320  acres)  to  the 
Fathers,  who,  in  good  faith,  entered  into  possession.  They, 
in  turn,  were  required  to  support  the  two  brothers  for  the 
rest  of  their  days.  Without  delay  the  Fathers  proceeded 
to  establish  a  monastery  on  one  of  the  claims:  an  humble 
makeshift  of  a  monastery  in  point  of  buildings.  The  latter 
consisted  of  a  log-hut,  destitute  of  comfort  and  furniture; 
a  small  frame  addition,  to  serve  as  a  kitchen,  was  at  once 
built.  Late  in  fall  a  small  stable  was  built  for  the  two 
horses  and  the  cow  which  constituted  the  entire  live-stock  of 
the  community. 

From  this  point  the  Fathers  visited  the  settlements  in 
Stearns  and  neighboring  counties,  gathered  the  people, 
formed  congregations,  began  erecting  churches  and  schools 
and  soon  had  the  satisfaction  to  learn  that  their  labors 
were  not  unrewarded,  for  the  people  responded  eagerly, 
and  soon  log-chapels  were  reared,  which  in  many  instances 
named  the  settlements,  as  St.  Joseph,  St.  Augusta,  St. 
Wendel,  St.  Martin  etc.  The  importance  of  the  school 
was  not  ignored:  the  children  were  collected  for  instruction 
for  a  few  months  a  year.  At  St.  Cloud,  P.  Cornelius,  who 
was  the  first  pastor  of  the  place,  established  a  school  in 
October  1856,  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Block  6,  Wash- 
ington and  Lake  Streets;  the  school  quarters  were  a  frail 
shed  built  of  boards.  Such  was  the  first  school  in  Steams 
County.  P.  Cornelius  held  services  for  the  congregation 
on  Sundays  and  taught  the  school  during  the  week  until 
summer  1857. 

The  Fathers  realized  that  in  course  of  time  some  pro- 
vision must  be  made  for  higher  education;  moreover,  if 
the  Order  and  its  missionary  work  was  to  bo  permanent  in 


St.    John's    University  5 

Minnesota,  provision  had  to  be  made  for  training  can- 
didates for  the  Order.  For  some  time  and  as  long  as 
the  monastery  continued  to  be  dependent  upon  St.  Vin- 
cent's, it  might  rely  upon  that  institution  for  help; 
but  it  was  desirable,  and  very  naturally  so,  that  each 
new  establishment  be  self  supporting  in  every  re- 
spect. No  shrewd  calculations  were  made  in  advance: 
a  college  was  a  necessity  and  whether  it  was  to  prove  a 
financial  success  or  not  was  a  question  that  received  no 
consideration.  Like  Abbot  Boniface  Wimmer,  the  Fathers 
were  willing  to  admit  students  who  lacked  the  means  to 
pay  their  way  through  a  course  of  study;  they  were 
convinced  that  their  labors  would  be  recompensed  in  one 
form  or  another. 

First  of  all  it  was  important  to  secure  corporate  rights 
for  the  Order  in  Minnesota  and  a  charter  for  the  prospec- 
tive educational  institution.  The  charter  was  drawn  up 
and  introduced  into  the  House  of  Representatives  (as 
House  file  No.  70)  during  the  eighth  session  of  the  Terri- 
torial Legislature,  on  January  22.  1857,  by  Hon.  John  L. 
Wilson,  of  St.  Cloud.     It  was 

A     BILL 

For  an  Act  to  Incorporate  the   St.  John   Seminary. 

Whereas,  It  is  highly  important,  that  the  youths  of  this 
new,  but  flourishing  Territory,  be  not  only  instructed  in 
the  elementary  sciences,  but  moreover,  be  also  educated 
by  sound,  moral  principles; 

And,  Whereas,  It  is  very  desirable,  that  there  be  a  cor- 
poration formed,  in  order  to  establish  a  scientific,  educa- 
tional and  ecclesiastical  institution ; 

In  consideration  thereof, 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  Terri- 
tory of  Minnesota: 

Sec.  1.  That  the  members  of  the  religious  order  of  St. 
Benedict,  Demitri  Marogna,  Cornelius  Wittmann,  Bruno 
Riss,  Alexius  Roetzer  and  their  associates  and  successors 


6  St.    John's    University 

in  office,  which  order  is  institutedfor  scientific,  educational 
and  ecclesiastical  purposes,  be  a  body  politic  and  corporate, 
to  be  known  by  the  name  and  style  of  "Order  of  St.  Bene- 
dict," and  by  that  name  shall  have  perpetual  succession. 

Sec.  2.  The  principal  object  of  this  politic  and  corpo- 
rate body  shall  be  the  promotion  of  the  instruction  and 
education  of  youths,  to  the  acquirement  of  which  end  the 
corporators  named  in  this  act  shall  be  hereby  authorized 
to  establish  and  erect  an  institution,  or  seminary,  in 
Steams  county,  on  that  portion  of  St.  Cloud  city,  platted 
and  recorded  as  Rothkopp's  Addition  to  St.  Cloud,  to  be 
known  by  the  name  and  style  of  "St.  John's  Seminary." 

(Then  follow  eight  other  sections  detailing  the  rights 
and  duties  of  the  corporation.) 

The  Bill  was  launched  upon  a  stormy  sea  and  encoun- 
tered much  prejudice  and  opposition  from  those  to  whom 
the  existence  of  an  educational  institution  controlled  by 
Catholic  clergymen  appeared  a  menace  to  the  public  wel- 
fare. After  being  passed  from  the  House  to  the  Council 
with  amendments  in  which  the  upper  body  refused  to  con- 
cur and  to  the  elimination  of  which  the  House  finally 
agreed,  the  bill  was  passed  February  27.  It  was  among 
the  last  bills  reported  and  was  signed  by  Governor  Willis 
A.  Gorman  on  March  6,  1857. 

Thus  the  new  institution  was  given  public  recognition 
and  the  Fathers  were  encouraged  to  proceed  in  their  enter- 
prise, the  organization  of  the  first  private  institution  for 
higher  education  in  Minnesota.  They  asked  for  no  State 
aid  and  had  no  hopes  of  ever  receiving  assistance  from 
that  quarter.  Pecuniary  resources  were  slender  and  the 
year  1857  was  marked  by  a  financial  crisis,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  dire  grasshopper  visitation  which  had  been  disast- 
rous to  the  crops  in  1856  and  the  ravages  of  which  were 
still  felt  in  this  part  of  the  Territory  in  1857. 


St.    John's    University 


Pbiob  Cornelius  Wittmann 


On  October  7,  1857  P.  Demetrius  retired  from  the  prior- 
ship  and  upon  invitation  of  the  late  Msgr.  A.  Ravoux, 
then  administrator  of  the  vacant  see  of  St.  Paul,  accepted 
the  pastorate  of  the  Assumption  church  in  the  city  of  St. 
Paul.  From  January  1858  to  June  1863  he  labored  in 
this  position:  then  his  poor  health  and  advanced  age  in- 
duced him  to  retire  from  active  service  in  the  mission. 
During  the  next  two  years  he  served  as  chaplain  of  St. 
Joseph's  Academy  in  St.  Paul,  until  his  steady  decline  in 
health  compelled  him  to  give  up  this  work  also.  After 
spending  the  better  part  of  two  years  at  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  in  the  vain  hope  of  recovering  his  health  he  re- 
turned to  Minnesota  and  died  at  St.  Paul,  March  27,  1869. 

On  his  retirement  in  October  1857,  he  was  followed  in 
the  office  of  Prior  by  P.  Cornelius  Wittmann,  hitherto 
pastor  of  St.  Cloud,  who  now  made  his  headquarters  at  the 
priory,  but  continued  to  hold  services  in  St.  Cloud  on 
Sundays . 

The  new  institution  had  been  chartered  as  a  Seminary, 
but  as  that  designation  was  not  familiar  to  the  public,  the 
name  "College"  soon  came  into  vogue.  It  was  not  a  pre- 
tentious college;  the  buildings,  staff  and  equipment  were 
lacking,  —  but  all  beginnings  are  small  and  the  founders 
were  confident  that  its  future  was  assured.  The  Prior  of 
the  community  acted  as  ex-officio  President  of  the  College. 

When  the  College  was  opened  Nov.  10,  1857,  there  was 
but  one  prof essor  and  five  students :  the  prof essor  was  P. 
Cornelius  and  the  pioneer  students,  Henry  Emmel  and 
Anthony  Edelbrock  (in  later  years  Abbot  and  President 
of  the  institution)  of  St.  Cloud,  Henry  Klostermann  of 
Richmond,  Andrew  Stahlberger  of  Lake  George  and  Jos. 
Duerr  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  simplicity  of  the  institution  may  be.  inferred  from 
tlie  following  graphic  memoir  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the 
students  of  those  days :  "Think  of  the  primitive  log  building 


8  St.    John's    University 

about  12x20,  then  to  this  an  additional  structure  about 
14x20,  in  height  one  story  and  an  attic — the  latter  weather 
boarded — situated  about  two  miles  below  St.  Cloud  on  the 
Mississippi  river  and  you  have  a  fine  picture  of  St.  John's 
in  1857.  The  whole  building  contained,  besides  kitchen 
and  studio,  three  small  rooms,  one  for  the  Prior,  one  for 
the  professor  and  the  third  was  kept  for  an  occasional 
guest.  In  those  days  guests  were  few  and  far  between. 
The  term  professor  was  used  in  the  singular  only,  because 
there  was  but  one  and  he  taught  all  the  branches.  The 
Rev.  Father  Cornelius  Wittmann,  O.  S.  B.  was  the  first  to 
open  a  day  school  in  St.  Cloud  and  Stearns  County,  and 
he  also  was  the  first  to  fill  the  professor's  chair  at  St. 
John's.  He  was  at  that  time  still  in  the  twenties,  nimble 
of  foot,  bright  in  mind,  pleasant  in  company;  the  children 
and  the  young  folks  were  especially  fond  of  him :  he  was 
a  zealous  and  amiable  gentleman." 

P.  Cornelius  was  a  painstaking  teacher  and  a  strict  dis- 
ciplinarian: but  it  was  his  considerate  kindness  that  recon- 
ciled the  students  to  the  primitive  conditions  prevalent  in 
the  poor  little  college.  Thus  in  a  reminiscent  mood  one  of 
the  early  students  writes:  "We  were  frontier  lads,  accus- 
tomed to  ample  elbowroom;  broad  prairies,  little  restraint 
and  good  meals  suited  us  first  rate.  We  had  largely  been 
our  own  bosses  and  to  enjoy  life  was  not  at  all  the  last  or 
least  of  our  aspirations.  When  therefore  the  reins  were 
slowly  but  firmly  put  upon  us,  there  were  sour  faces,  and 
one  or  the  other  even  doubted  whether  he  ought  not  at  once 
bid  a  long,  lingering  adieu  to  Apollo  and  the  Muses. 

"The  college  regulations  were  read  to  us.  We  had  to 
rise  at  five  o'clock,  say  our  morning  prayers,  attend  daily 
Mass;  then  study  and  at  seven  o'clock  breakfast:  i.  e.  a  cup 
of  coffee  and  a  slice  of  dry  bread  —  no  butter  or  molasses 
or  sugar  there.  After  breakfast  free  for  one  half -hour;  at 
8  o'clock  classes  began  and  lasted  until  11;  then  dinner. 
After  dinner,  free  time  until  one  o'clock;  then  classes  were 
resumed.     At  3  we   received  a  piece  of  dry   bread.     This, 


St.    John's    University  9 

with  fresh  water,  was  relished  with  a  gusto.  From  4  to  6 
we  had  to  study;  at  6  supper.  From  7^  to  8|  study  time, 
then  night  prayers  and  to  bed .... 

"There  was  poverty  everywhere;  a  poor  and  miserable 
house,  poor  and  scant  food;  poor  and  bad  lights.  The 
tallow  candle  was  the  only  light  in  those  days.  Then  no- 
body knew  anything  of  kerosene,  gas  or  electric  light,  the 
indispensable  requisites  of  the  modern  school  room.  Must 
it  not  be  a  surprise  to  some  people  of  our  days,  that  in 
centuries  gone  by  such  great  luminaries  arose,  illuminated 
only  by  the  tallow  candle?  Yet  such  is  the  truth.  The 
greatest  men  the  world  ever  saw  were  surrounded  by  poverty 
and  poor  light.  We  had  few  books.  The  professor  lec- 
tured; we  had  to  write.  Yes,  we  were  started  in  on  the 
European  plan."* 

Meanwhile  difficulties  had  arisen,  involving  the  posses- 
sion of  the  two  claims  which  the  community  occupied. 
To  escape  possible  embarrassments  from  litigation.  Prior 
Cornelius  determined  to  transfer  both  the  priory  and  the 
college  to  St.  Joseph,  eight  miles  west  of  St.  Cloud.  The 
transfer  was  made  on  March  5,  1858.  Here  the  college 
was  continued  in  a  log  structure,  25x30.  Prior  Cornelius 
turned  his  attention  to  the  general  direction  of  the  affairs 
of  his  community  and  was  succeeded  in  the  management 
of  the  college  by  P.  Alexius  Roetzer,  whose  name  appears 
in  the  charter  as  one  of  the  corporators.  He  came  to  Min- 
nesota in  October  1856  and  had  hitherto  been  employed 
in  ministering  to  the  missions  of  Stearns,  Benton,  Meeker 
and  Wright  counties.  He  was  a  man  of  imposing  physical 
stature,  with  an  emaciated  countenance  from  which  beamed 
a  bright  intellect;  he  was  zealous  and  amiable,  pious  and 
talented,  kind,  yet  strict.  He  carried  into  the  class-room 
the  same  zeal  with  which  he  had  visited  the  missions  and 
enjoyed  the  love  and  confidence  of  his  class.  He  was  an 
excellent   professor,    still  the  number  of  students   did  not 


*  S.J.  IT.  Record,  vol.  1.62. 


10  St.    John's    University 

increase  during  his  regime.  The  times  were  too  hard  and 
the  settlers  too  poor.  He  worked  faithfully  until  June 
1859  when  his  rapidly  failing  health  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign. He  felt  that  he  was  doomed  and  returned  East;  on 
February  25,  1860  he  expired  at  St.  Vincent's  at  the  age  of 
twenty-eight. 

In  September  1858  the  first  general  chapter  of  the  Order 
in  the  United  States  was  held  at  St.  Vincent's.  Prior 
Cornelius  and  P.  Benedict  Haindl  of  the  Minnesota  mis- 
sion attended.  At  this  chapter  the  St.  Cloud  priory  was 
declared  independent  and  authorized  to  exist  as  a  separate 
community.  P.  Benedict  Haindl  was  at  the  same  time 
elected  as  first  canonical  Prior  of  the  monastery,  and  his 
election  was  duly  approved  by  a  decree  of  the  Propaganda 
Dec.  23.  1858. 

Prior  Benedict  Haindl  (1858  -  62) 

who  had  joined  the  Benedictine  Order  at  St.  Vincent's  and, 
since  his  ordination  to  the  priesthood  in  1849,  had  dis- 
played his  abilities  in  several  important  capacities,  came 
to  Minnesota  in  April  1857.  Since  his  arrival  he  had 
served  in  the  missions  of  Scott,  Le  Sueur  and  Carver  coun- 
ties, where  he  visited  and  organized  a  number  of  congrega- 
tions. 

When  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  late  in 
1858,  P.  Cornelius  retired  and  was  appointed  pastor  at 
Shakopee.  Prior  Benedict  did  not  consider  the  late  trans- 
fer of  the  institution  expedient  and  in  March  1859,  both 
monastery  and  college  were  again  removed  to  St.  Cloud, 
i.  e.  to  the  Rothkopp's  claim. 

After  P.  Alexius'  retirement  from  the  professorshii)  in 
June  1859,  he  was  succeeded  by  P.  Anschar  Frauendorfer, 
who,  in  addition  to  the  work  of  the  class  room,  attended  the 
mission  of  St.  Augusta  twice  a  month.  P.  Anschar  was  a 
man  of  scholarly  attainments  and  is  remembered  by  his 
pupils  as  an  excellent  professor  of  the  Greek  language.  He 
occupied  the  position  of  professor  with  much  credit  from 


St.    John's    University  11 

September  1859  to  November  13,  1860,  when  he  became 
assistant  to  the  pastor  of  the  Assumption  church,  in  St. 
Paul,  and  was  followed  in  the  professorial  chair  by  P.  Mag- 
nus Mayr  who  had  arrived  from  St.  Vincent's  in  August  of 
that  year. 

P.  Magnus  was  an  able  teacher  and  the  attendance  during 
his  administration  was  very  satisfactory.  He  was  assisted 
in  the  class  room  by  Mr.  John  Daxacher,  a  student  of 
theology  and  subsequently  a  wellknown  clergyman  in  the 
diocese  of  Omaha  (f  Nov.  1904).  Owing  to  the  increase 
of  attendance,  the  accommodations  were  insufficient  and 
a  new  building,  22x54,  was  erected  in  1861.  It  was  the  in- 
tention of  the  community  to  establish  an  ecclesiastical 
seminary  distinct  from  the  classical  school.  Bishop  Grace 
on  his  return  from  an  official  visit  to  the  settlements  along 
the  Red  River,  had  encouraged  the  Fathers  to  make  this  im- 
provement and  had  promised  students  and  substantial  as- 
sistance. In  fall,  1861,  P.Magnus  retired  and  was  succeeded 
by  P.  Anschar  Frauendorfer.  P.  Magnus  did  not  remain 
a  member  of  the  community,  but  accepted  an  appointment 
as  pastor  in  the  diocese  of  St.  Paul,  in  which  he  continued 
to  serve  at  various  places — Chanhassen,  East  Minneapolis 
and,  finally,  St.  Walburga  (Rogers  P.  O.),  where  he  died 
June  29,  1888.  Among  his  papers  were  several  interesting 
notes  which  are  embodied  iti  the  present  sketch. 

Troublesome  days  were  drawing  nigh:  in  spring  1861  the 
Civil  War  broke  out  and  the  excitement  pervaded  even  the 
Arcadian  seclusion  of  the  frontier  college.  Still,  work  was 
not  seriously  hampered.  The  scholastics,  or  students  who 
were  preparing  to  enter  the  Order,  were  permitted  to  wear 
the  habit  of  the  Order,  as  was  customary  in  St.  Vincent's. 
Mr.  Daxacher,  who  has  been  mentioned  above,  received 
the  habit  in  December  1861,  and  on  January  6  following, 
Fratres  Benedict  M.  Duerr,  Boniface  Emmel,  Willibald 
Michel,  Augustine  Marshall  and  Valentine  Stimmler  were 
invested  as  scholastics.  They  were  not  bound  by  vows 
and  attended  classes  with  the  other  students. 


12  St.    John's    University 

Although  the  school  near  St.  Cloud  seemed  to  be  pro- 
gressing satisfactorily,  there  was  a  sentiment  favorable  to 
a  transfer  of  the  institution  into  the  more  populous  dis- 
tricts of  the  State  and  Shakopee  was  deemed  an  eligible 
locality.  This  project,  however,  was  abandoned.  When 
the  institution  was  transferred  to  St.  Cloud  in  1859,  the 
tenure  of  the  Rothkopp  claim  was  uncertain.  Now,  new 
complications  set  in.  Mr.  Geo.  F.  Brott,  who  had  carried 
mail  between  Minneapolis  and  St.  Cloud  from  1855  -  58 
and  for  this  service  was  entitled  to  select  public  lands, 
laid  claim  to  the  premises  held  by  the  Rothkopps  and  had 
taken  steps  to  make  good  his  claim  in  Washington.  There 
was  a  lively  dispute  which  continued  until  February  20, 
1862  when  the  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office  de- 
cided against  Mr.  Brott.  The  latter  appealed  from  this 
decision  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Caleb  B.  Smith, 
who  reversed  the  commissioner's  ruling  on  April  25,  1862. 
Of  the  320  acres  in  litigation,  only  75  were  awarded  to 
Louis  Rothkopp.     The  other  brother  had  died  in  1859. 

Troubles  never  come  singly:  during  August  1862  the 
citizens  of  Minnesota  had  a  rebellion  of  the  Sioux  Indians 
on  hand.  On  August  21,  the  savages  attacked  New  Ulm 
and  perpetrated  a  dreadful  massacre.  "The  counties  along 
the  Minnesota  river"  says  J.  Fletcher  Williams,"^  "were 
not  the  only  ones  ravaged  by  the  red  devils  during  that 
week  of  blood.  McLeod,  Monongalia,  Kandiyohi,  Stearns, 
Meeker,  Otter  Tail,  Douglas,  Sibley,  etc.,  were  all  overrun 
in  whole  or  in  part,  and  the  inhabitants  either  butchered  or 
driven  away.     The  first  blood  of  the  outbreak  had  been 

shed  at  Acton,  Meeker  county Western  and  southern 

Stearns  county  suffered  severely  from  the  depredations  of 
the  red  foe.  About  August  23d,  they  committed  murders 
and  other  crimes  near  Paynesville.  The  people  of  that 
town  erected  a  strong  stockade,  and  the  citizens  and 
refugees  from  points  further    west  sheltered   themselves 


History  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Page  147. 


St.    John's    University  13 

therein.  A  part  of  the  town  was  burned  but  no  attack  was 
made  on  the  post.  At  Maine  Prairie,  St.  Joseph's,  Sauk 
Centre,  Clear  Water,  Little  Falls,  and  other  places,  similar 
stockades  were  built  and  held  by  a  few  determined  citi- 
zens. At  St.  Cloud,  which  was  filled  with  refugees,  strong 
fortifications  were  built  and  preparations  made  to  defend 
the  place  to  the  utmost,  but  no  foe  ever  appeared,  fortu- 
nately. A  number  of  persons  were  murdered  in  the  wes- 
tern and  southern  part  of  Stearns  county,  and  houses 
burned." 

Most  of  the  settlers  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  St. 
Cloud  fled  to  that  town;  the  College,  too,  was  seized  by  a 
panic  and  was  forced  to  suspend  work.  Several  of  the 
students  left;  the  rest,  together  with  the  community,  took 
refuge  in  St.  Cloud  where  work  was  continued  as  well  as 
circumstances  permitted. 

Prior  Benedict's  term  of  office  had  expired,  much  to  his 
own  relief,  for  he  had  lived  through  bitter  days.  At  a 
chapter  held  at  St.  Cloud  on  October  15.  1862,  a  successor 
to  P.  Benedict  was  elected  in  the  person  of  Very  Rev.  P. 
Othmar  Wirtz. 

Prior  Othmar  Wirtz  (1862-65) 

had,  since  his  ordination  to  priesthood  in  1857,  been  Direc- 
tor of  the  College  and  Prior  at  St.  Vincent's,  Pa.  He  was 
a  pious  and  zealous  religious  and  had  nothing  more  at 
heart  than  the  promotion  of  monastic  life.  He  arrivedin  St. 
Cloud  November  17,  1862  and  at  once  began  to  regulate 
the  missionary  work  of  the  community.  In  consequence 
of  the  disturbance  caused  by  the  Indian  outbreak,  it  was 
next  to  impossible  to  conduct  college  work.  The  class  for 
some  time  was  composed  exclusively  of  candidates  for  the 
Order. 

The  adverse  decision  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  re- 
garding the  Rothkopp  claim  was  a  source  of  great  disap- 
pointment to  the  community:  the  fruit  of  five  years'  labor 
and  expenditure  was  lost.     Prior  Othmar  did  not  consider 


14  St.    John's    University 

the  place,  suitable  for  a  monastery,  because  it  was  too  near 
what  promised  to  be  a  large  city  in  due  course  of  time. 
Hence  he  resolved  to  abandon  the  place  and  transfer  the 
community  into  what  was  then  called  the  Indian  Bush,  the 
woods  west  of  St.  Joseph.  Here  the  Fathers  had  taken  up 
several  "claims"  years  before  and  several  Brothers  had 
lived  there,  cutting  down  timber  and  preparing  the  soil 
for  cultivation. 

Before  taking  the  final  steps,  Prior  Othmar  petitioned 
the  State  Legislature  for  an  appropriate  modification  of 
the  charter,  which  had  authorized  the  erection  of  a  semi- 
nary in  a  definite  locality.     That  body  early  in  1864  passed 

AN    ACT 

To   AMEND   AN     ACT    TO    INCORPOEATE    THE    St      JoHN's 

Seminary,  approved  March  sixth,  1857. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Minne- 
sota: 

Sec.  I.  That  section  two  of  an  act  to  incorporate  the 
St.  John's  Seminary  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended 
so  as  to  read  as  follows; 

Section  2.  The  principal  object  of  this  politic  and 
corporate  body  shall  be  the  promotion  of  the  instruction 
and  education  of  youths,  to  the  acquirements  of  which  end 
the  corporators  named  in  this  act  shall  be  hereby  author- 
ized to  establish  and  erect  an  institution  or  seminary  in 
Stearns  County  to  be  known  by  the  name  and  style  of  St. 
John's  Seminary." 

Sec.  II.  This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from 
and  after  its  passage. 

Approved  February  6.  1864. 

Shortly  after  the  approval  of  this  Act,  the  third  transfer 
was  made  and  operations  were  resumed  in  the  heart  of  the 
Indian  Bush,  a  short  distance  from  the  present  College- 
ville  station.  There  was  no  railway  line  west  of  the 
Mississippi  at  the  time. 


St.    John's    University  15 

• 
Here  P.  Benedict  had  caused  a  house  to  be  built  five 

years  before.     It  was  too   small  for  the  community,  and  a 

more  pretentious  frame  building,  also  a  neat  little  chapel 

had  been   built.     A  fair   piece  of  land   had  been    placed, 

under   cultivation;    there  was   water  and  fuel  near  by  and 

the   vicinity  was  gradually  building  up.     This  was  the 

home   of   the   community    for   almost   three   years.     One 

building  sheltered  the  religious  and  the  few  students.     P. 

Wolfgang  Northman,  who  had  come  from  St.  Vincent's  as 

a  cleric   in    1862   acted   as   professor   and   disciplinarian. 

Late  in  1864  Fr.  Valentine  Stimmler,  the  only  scholastic 

remaining  of  the  class  of  1862,  was  sent  into  the  novitiate 

at  St.  Vincent's,  being  the  first  novice  from  Minnesota. 

He  returned  towards  the  end  of  1865  and  continued  his 

theological  studies. 

On  December  11,  1865,  Prior  Othmar  retired  from  office 
and  was  succeeded,  temporarily,  by  the  former  Prior  P. 
Benedict.  P.  Othmar,  who  was  suffering  from  some  pul- 
monary malady,  became  assistant  at  the  Assumption 
church,  St.  Paul,  where  after  almost  nine  years  of  an 
exemplary,  devoted  life  he  died  June  8, 1874.  Prior  Bene- 
dict had  himself  chosen  the  site  on  which  the  monastery 
stood  in  1865  —  section  31  of  the  township  of  St.  Wendel 
—  but  less  than  two  miles  to  the  southwest  there  was  what 
appeared  to  him  to  be  a  still  more  desirable  location,  at 
least  for  the  buildings.  It  was  rolling  country  covered 
with  dense  woods  and  its  most  attractive  and  useful  fea- 
ture was  a  delightful  lake  about  400  acres  in  extent.  With- 
out delay,  he  prej^ared  for  the  fourth  transfer.  In  January 
1866  a  site  on  an  elevation  on  the  northern  shore  of  the 
lake  was  selected  for  the  buildings;  trees  were  cut  down 
and  as  soon  as  spring  set  in,  excavations  for  the  base- 
ment were  begun.  The  entire  personnel  of  the  monastery 
assisted  in  the  work ;  there  were,  besides,  a  number  of  paid 
laborers. 

The  first  building  was  constructed  of  boulders,  or  "nig- 
ger heads"  picked  up  at  or  near  the  building  site.     Trave- 


16  St.    John's    University 

lers  through  this  part  of  the  State  may  still  see  buildings 
of  this  apparently  unwieldy  material.  The  structure  was 
46x50  ft.  and  its  unadorned  front  faced  the  rising  sun. 
Besides  the  basement,  there  were  two  stories  and  an  attic. 
The  basement  was  intended  for  cellars,  kitchen  and  din- 
ing room;  the  first  and  second  floor  as  quarters  —  tem- 
porarily —  for  the  Fathers,  study  and  class  rooms:  the 
attic  as  a  dormitory  for  the  students.  On  the  ridge  of  the 
roof  was  an  open  turret  in  which  hung  the  college  bell  — 
that  sweet-voiced  bell  which  pealed  for  matin  song  from 
a  small  belfry  near  the  Mississippi  in  1857  and  accom- 
panied the  community  in  all  its  wanderings.  And  today 
fifty  years  after  its  arrival,  its  voice  is  as  clear  as  it  was 
then;  and  it  hangs  in  the  northwest  turret  of  the  college 
buildings,  still  doing  service  as  a  college  bell.  The  jubilee 
class  will  most  assuredly  not  forget  to  decorate  the  good 
old  bell  with  a  wreath  of  water  lilies. 

Rt.  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Grace  laid  the  foundation  stone  of 
the  building  on  July  19,  1866;  on  February  1,  1867,  the 
community  left  the  "old  farm"  and  made  its  home  in  the 
new  structure.  The  buildings  near  St.  Cloud  had  been 
destroyed  by  fire  on  February  20.  1866;  the  frame- 
house  and  chapel  were  taken  apart  and  transported  to  the 
new  site,  and  thus  all  immediate  temptations  to  migrate 
were  effectually  disposed  of. 

Abbot  Boniface  Wimmer,  during  his  sojourn  in  Rome  in 
1865,  negotiated  for  the  elevation  of  the  St.  Cloud  priory 
to  an  abbey;  his  efforts  were  successful  and  on  August  8, 
1866  the  Holy  See  erected  the  abbey  and  authorized  the 
Fathers  to  elect  their  first  abbot.  On  December  12,  1866, 
they  assembled  at  the  old  farm  and  elected  the  Very  Rev. 
Rupert  Seidenbush,  then  Prior  of  St.  Vincent's  abbey. 
This  selection  was  approved  by  the  Holy  See  March  15, 
1867;  two  days  later  followed  a  decree  authorizing  the 
name  of  "St.  Louis  on  the  Lake"  for  the  abbey. 


St.    John's    University  17 

The  Alumni 

The  students  before  1867  speak  of  themselves  as  students 
of  "old"  St.  John's.  Few  in  number,  their  deeds  at  college 
fill  no  volumes.  No  annual  catalogues  were  printed;  local 
newspapers  preserve  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  early  institu- 
tion. The  first  school-year  was  opened  with  an  attendance 
of  five  pupils;  for  a  few  years  this  number  did  not  grow 
appreciably.  For  a  short  time  as  many  as  twenty  students 
were  enrolled. 

In  the  absence  of  complete  and  authentic  records,  only 
a  partial  list  of  the  early  alumni  can  be  given: 

A.  and  H.  Berlemann;  two  brothers,  had  been  students 
at  St.  Vincent's  and  returned  to  that  institution  when  the 
Indian  troubles  broke  out  in  1862; 

Peter  Droitcour; 

Henry  Duerr; 

Joseph  Duerr;  became  a  schoolteacher  and   taught 
in  various  parts  of  the  State; 

Stephen  Engels; 

Anthony  Edelbrock;  subsequently  Abbot; 

Joseph  Edelbrock;  deceased; 

Dan.  Elberth; 

Louis  Elberth; 

Henry  J.  Emmel,  of  Spring  Hill; 

Louis  Emmel,  died  as  a  druggist  in  New  York  city; 

Stephen  Ethen,  of  Cold  Springs,  deceased; 

Sephen  Fiedler,  of  St.  Joseph ; 

Edward  Francis ; 

Edward  Goerger,  of  St.  Cloud; 

Alfred  Jordan ; 

John  Kaufmann; 

Henry  Klostermann; 

Christian  Looser; 

Theodore  Lueke; 

Conrad  A.  Marschall,  became  a  schoolteacher; 

B.  Michel; 


18  St.    John's    University 

Frank  Minar; 

Frank  Molitor; 

August  Mockenhaupt,  of  St.  Cloud;  died  1902; 

Gustav  Mockenhaupt,  of  St.  Cloud,  attended  about 
1862:  subsequently  finished  his  studies  at  St.  Francis  sem- 
inary, near  Milwaukee,  and  was  pastor  of  Centralia,  111.  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  September  26,  1868; 

Paul  Mockenhaupt  of  St.  Cloud;  at  present  a  mer- 
chant in  Chicago; 

Robert  Mockenhaupt  of  St.  Cloud,  at  present  in 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Henry  Robbers,  of  St.  Cloud; 

P.  Ruppi; 

Henry  Schmidt; 

Andrew  Stalberger,  of  Lake  George; 

Valentine  Stimmler,  now  P.  Valentine,  O.  S.  B.; 

John  Teller; 

Frank  Vrabeck. 
Despite  the  poverty  of  the  pioneer  institution,  its  alumni 
have  always  cherished  their  Alma  Mater  and  have  shown 
their  loyalty  in  word  and  deed.  To  some  of  them,  espe- 
cially to  Mr.  H.  J.  Emmel,  the  present  generation  owes  a 
debt  of  gratitude  for  reminiscences  of  the  early  days; 
among  others  a  pencil  sketch  of  the  buildings  at  St. 
Cloud  in  1861. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Reconstruction  —  School-years  1867  -  1875 
1867  -  '68 

The  first  abbot  of  St.  Louis  on  the  Lake  was  solemnly 
inducted  into  the  abbatial  ofiice  by  Bishop  G.  A.  Carrell, 
of  Covington,  Ky.  at  St.  Vincent's  abbey  on  May  30, 
1867,  left  for  the  West  on  June  1  and  arrived  at  his 
abbey  on  the  13th  of  that  month.  On  July  24  following, 
arrived  P.  Augustine  Burns  and  the  cleric,  Fr.  Alexius 
Edelbrock,  who  as  Anthony  Edelbrock  was  one  of  the  first 
students  of  "old"  St.  John's.  He  had  comeback  to  support 
the  new  abbot  in  the  reorganization  of  the  college,  which 
during  the  last  three  years  had  all  but  gone  out  of  ex- 
istence. 

Although  the  stone  building  was  unassuming  in  appear- 
ance and  fitted  with  few  comforts,  it  was  deemed  quite  an 
achievement  forty  years  ago.  But  its  isolation  was  con- 
sidered an  invaluable  advantage,  despite  the  great  distance 
which  visitors,  baggage,  provisions  etc.  had  to  be  carried 
over  pioneer-day  roads. 

Abbot  Rupert  lost  no  time  in  placing  the  institution  into 
public  view  and  both  the  Wanderer  and  North  Western 
ChroJiicle,  the  only  Catholic  papers  in  the  State,  carried 
advertisements  of  the  institution.  That  which  appeared 
in  the  Chronicle  of  July  13,  1867  read  as  follows: 

"St.  John's  College.  Lender  the  charge  of  the  Benedic- 
tine Fathers,  of  the  abbey  of  St.  Louis  on  the  Lake,  situa- 

19 


20  St.    John's    University 

ted  in  the  mo^  healthy  rep^ion  of  the  State  of  Minnesota, 
will  commence  its  half-yearly  regular  course  of  studies  on 
the  Second  Day  of  September.  Admission  Fee,  $5.00; 
Yearly  Pension  $175.  Payable  half-yearly  in  advance. 
No  extra  charges  except  for  medical  attendance,  medicine, 
books  and  stationery.  For  advice  address  Rt.  Rev.  Rupert 
Seidenbush,  O.  S.  B.,  Abbot,  Clinton,  P.  O.,  Stearns  Co., 
Minn."  (Clinton  was  the  name  of  the  post  office  at  St. 
Joseph.)  This  advertisement  was  launched  into  publicity 
without  an  editorial  comment  or  "send-off"  of  any  descrip- 
tion. 

On  September  2,  as  announced,  the  students  assembled 
and  the  machinery  of  the  "republic  of  letters"  was  set  in 
operation.  The  abbot  of  the  monastery  was  ex-officio 
President  of  the  college:  the  management,  however,  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  director,  also  styled  President,  the  late 
P.  Wolfgang  Northman,  who  since  his  ordination  in  1865 
had  been  pastor  at  St.  Joseph  until  he  was  called  to  the 
College  in  July  1867.  Fr.  Valentine  Stimmler  was  discip- 
linarian and  study-keeper.  The  teaching  faculty  consis- 
ted of  P.  Wolfgang,  P.  Alexius  (ordained  Sept.  29)  Fr.  Val- 
entine, two  secular  clergymen,  Rev.  Dr.  Aylward,  Rev.  J. 
Kearney  and  a  Mr.  Stein. 

The  curriculum  comprised  the  following  branches: 
Christian  Doctrine,  two  classes;  Latin,  four  classes;  Greek, 
two  classes;  English  Rhetoric;  Grammar,  two  classes;  Elo- 
cution; Reading  and  Spelling,  three  classes;  German 
Rhetoric;  German  Grammar  and  Reading,  two  classes; 
French,  two  classes;  Geometry;  Algebra;  Arithmetic,  four 
classes;  Book-keeping,  two  classes;  History,  two  classes; 
Penmanship;  Drawing;  Music  —  Piano,  Violin,  Brass  In- 
truments,  and  Vocal  Music. 

P.Wolfgang  chiefly  taught  Music;  P.  Alexius,  Classics; 
Dr.  Aylward,  English  branches;  Rev.  Kearney,  Mathemat- 
ics; Mr.  Stein,  German,  and  the  student,  Andrew  Schiffrer 
—  who  later  entered  the  Order  as  Fr.  Vincent  —  Drawing. 

From  the  range   and   variety   of   branches   taught,  it  is 


St.    John's    University 


21 


evident  the  College  from  the  first  sought  to  meet  the  needs 
of  the  people  in  whose  midst  it  was  bnilt:  there  was  a  pre- 
paratory course  for  the  young  man  who  was  satisfied  to 
"plough  his  patrimonial  fields,"  a  book-keeping  class  for  the 
youth  preparing  for  commercial  pursuits,  a  classical  course 
for  aspirants  to  the  learned  professions.  That  some  of 
these  classes  enjoyed  a  very  slender  attendance,  may  easily 
be  imagined.  A  special  theological  department  had  not 
yet  been  organized,  but  there  were  two  students  for  the 
course  —  Jos.  B.  Cotter  and  Fr.  Valentine  O.  S.  B.,  who  re- 
ceived private  instruction  in  theology  and  kindred  branches. 
Fifty-one  students  were  enrolled  during  this  year;  they  are: 


Abb,  John 
Beez,  Joseph 
Betzold,  Joseph 
Bohn,  William 
Brennan,  William 
Broker,  Ignatius 
Corrigan,  Severin 
Cotter,  Joseph  B. 
Crever,  Constantine 
DeMeules,  Louis 
Doheny,  Walter 
Donovan,  James 
Dreher,  Otto 
Erkens,  Frederic 
Greven,  Ignatius 
Griebler,  Francis 
Helhacke,  Joseph 


Hemmisch,  Mat. 
Hofbauer,  John 
Huhn,  Martin 
Just,  G. 
Kerst,  Conrad 
Latsch,  Francis 
Leuthard,  Joseph 
Mclntire,  Martin 
Mitsch,  George 
Moosbrugger,  Anth. 
Muggli,  Edward 
Pendy,  Alex. 
Pendy,  John 
Pross,  William 
Reiss,  George 
Reitmeyer,  Vincent 
Robbers,  Henry 


Schaller,  Francis 
Schiflfrer,  Andrew 
Schleper,  Tobias 
Schmit,  Anthony 
Schmoeger,  Max. 
Schott,  Martin 
Schwartz,  Frank 
Shanley,  John 
Sheare,  Sylvester 
Simonitsch,  Mat. 
Stimmler,  Valentine 
Stockard,  John 
Tenvoorde,  William 
Walz,  Joseph 
Watry,  Dominic 
AVeitzel,  Joseph 
Williams,  Charles. 


Of  these,  J.  Abb  is  a  priest  of  the  diocese  of  Green  Bay 
and  chaplain  of  St.  Vincent's  Hospital  in  that  city;  Sev. 
J.  Corrigan,  is  a  well  known  Western  physicist  and  astro- 
nomer, in  St.  Paul;  L.J.  DeMeules,  a  former  president 
of  the  St.  John's  Alumni  Association,  is  traveling  sales- 
man for  the  house  of  G.  R.  Newell,  Minneapolis,  and  re- 
sides at  St.  Cloud ;  Otto  Dreher  for  many  years  was  teacher 
and  organist  at  St.  Joseph's  church,  Chicago;  now  retired 
from  service;  F.  Erkens,  whose  son,  Father  Albert,  is  the 
present   Director  of  St.  John's,  lives  in  Portland,   Oregon ; 


22  St.    John's    University 

J.  Shanley  is  Bishop  of  Fargo,  N.  D.;  George  Mitsch  sub- 
sequently graduated  from  a  college  of  Pharmacy  in  Phila- 
delphia, was  proprietor  of  a  drug  store  in  St.  Paul,  also 
for  some  time  Fire  Commissioner  of  that  city  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  St.  John's  Alumni  Association,  he  is  still  among 
the  living;  Vincent  Reitmeyer  died  as  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus  April  17,  1888  at  Santa  Clara,  Cal;  John 
Hofbauer,  distinguished  for  his  musical  attainments,  en- 
tered the  Benedictine  Order  and  after  many  years  of  use- 
ful service  at  the  institution,  died  July  17,  1901.  Joseph 
Leuthard,  known  in  the  Order  as  Father  Meinrad,  fell  a 
victim  during  the  small  pox  epidemic  at  Melrose  Nov.  28, 
1881.  Frank  Schwartz,  in  the  Order  Fr.  Edmund,  died  of 
consumption  before  ordination  Nov.  17,  1872.  Fr.  Valen- 
tine Stimmler,  for  a  number  of  years  pastor  of  various  con- 
gregations in  Stearns  county  and  in  St.  Paul  (1875-87)  is 
chaplain  in  a  convent  at  Frontenac,  Minn.  Dominic 
Watry,  who  was  Fr.  Placidus  in  the  Order,  died  in  the 
second  year  of  his  priesthood,  August  25,  1876.  Martin 
Mclntire  and  Max  Schmoeger  died  before  they  had  fin- 
ished their  classical  course.  A.  Moosbrugger  became  a 
prominent  County  ofScal  of  Stearns  county  and  died  1897. 
J.  B.  Cotter  is  Bishop  of  Winona.  Conrad  Kerst  of  St. 
Paul,  died  1891.  Frank  Schaller  has  made  St.  John's  his 
home  and  is  still  in  the  employ  of  the  institution. 

Classes  began  to  recite  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning 
and  each  recitation  consumed  one  hour.  An  oral  examina- 
tion was  held  semiannually.  One  day  each  week  —  Thurs- 
day —  was  allotted  for  recreation,  for  which  there  was  ample 
room  in  the  broad  forest  and  on  the  lake. 

One  of  the  students  of  '68,  C.  J.  Williams,  thus  describes 
conditions  at  and  about  St.  John's:  "Things  were  primi- 
tive in  those  days  at  that  temple  of  learning.  I  remember 
this  because  on  the  morning  after  my  arrival  I  heard  of 
an  Indian  encampment  along  the  lake-shore,  some  half 
mile  distant  from  the  college  and  being  of  an  investigating 
turn   of   mind,   resolved  to  visit  it  forthwith,  which  I  did. 


St.    John's    University  23 

On  my  return  I  was  informed  that  I  had  been  out  of  "bounds.' 
In  the  guilelessness  of  my  childish  nature,  I  asked  where 
the  line  ran.  As  it  was  as  imaginary  as  a  parallel  of  longi- 
tude and  much  harder  to  find,  and  as  it  was  easier  for  the 
authorities  to  forgive  me  than  to  answer  my  question,  I  was 
excused. 

Our  base  ball  grounds  were  at  the  college  gate.  They 
were  constructed  like  an  angry  porcupine's  back.  The 
frantic  efforts  of  a  fielder  to  chase  down  a  ball  in  its  crazy 
career  through  the  array  of  maple  stumps  with  which  the 
diamond  was  studded,  would  be  a  revelation  to  the  champ- 
ions at  St.  John's  today.  The  multiiDlicity  of  caroms  was 
appalling.  There  was  some  relief  for  the  outs  in  the  rule 
which  retired  a  base-runner  hit  by  a  batted  ball,  for  the 
man  whose  prowess  at  the  home  plate  had  sent  the  sphere 
on  its  wild  course,  was  apt  to  find  it  going  toward  him  be- 
fore he  got  very  far  on  his  journey.  The  woodman's  axe 
has  changed  the  face  of  nature  in  that  locality  now.  I  am 
reminded  that  sergeant  John  Pendy  (see  list  above)  of  the 
St.  Paul  police,  used  to  handle  that  implement  very  artis- 
tically and  effectively.  When  the  boys  discovered  a  parti- 
cularly obnoxious  monarch  of  the  forest,  John's  Celtic 
brawn  and  genius  was  called  into  requisition,  and  like  his 
ancestors  in  the  old  land,  he  cleared  the  way." 

In  this  way  Mr.  Wiliams  continues  unraveling  the  web 
of  the  past,  describing  impressions  and  experiences  of  a 
young  man  on  the  alert  to  mingle  the  monotony  of  class 
routine  with  all  the  enjoyments  nature  offered.  The  lake, 
especially,  fascinated  him  and  here  is  his  account  of  an  ex- 
perience. "It  was  upon  this  lake  that  I  had  my  first  ex- 
perience in  fish-spearing.  My  entire  loss  of  taste  for  fish 
dates  from  that  hour.  I  don't  know  why  it  was  necessary 
to  choose  a  dark,  dismal,  shivery  night  for  the  purpose,  but 
such  it  was.  A  'scow'  boat  was  used  for  transportation, 
probably  because  it  was  slower  and  could  impart  more 
doleful  misery  to  its  freight  than  any  other  known 
vessel.     It  was  rowed  by  the  unhappy  oarsmen  with  an  ac- 


24  '     St.    John's    Univeksity 

tion  and  effect  like  that  of  an  unreliable  lever  worked  on  a 
wabbly  fulcrum  against  an  obstinate  counterforce.  The 
moving  spirit  of  the  expedition  stood,  like  ancient  Neptune 
with  his  trident  at  the  prow,  only  in  fuller  dress;  he  did 
the  spearing.  It  is  always  necessary  in  order  to  clear  the 
spear  of  its  catch,  to  slop  a  quart  of  thirty  degree  lake-water 
in  your  neighbor's  shoe  or  down  his  neck  or  to  fondle  him  on 
his  cheek  with  the  slimy  spoil.  This  I  learned  that  night. 
I  also  learned  the  larger  kind  of  turtle  was  a  social  animal, 
but  of  uncertain  temper  and  with  an  unconquerable  desire 
to  hold  on  to  something.  The  turtle  is  partial  to  fingers. 
After  several  hours  of  "sport"  in  company  with  the  rest  I 
regained  the  college,  tired,  wet,  cold  and  sleepy,  and  with 
an  uncomfortable  knowledge  that  my  appetite  was  wide 
awake  and  the  butler  fast  asleep.  Ever  after  I  declined 
participating  in  this  exhilarating  pastime,  preferring  to 
spend  my  evenings  with  pagan  poets  whose  society  was  a 
joyful  relief  after  the  company  of  a  madman  who  wielded  a 
successful  fish-spear  at  night."* 

The  lake  had  many  attractive  and  many  secluded  haunts, 
each  of  which  was  dubbed  with  a  special  name  —  Caesar's 
Bay,  Meier's  Bay,  Ignatius  Lake,  Doctor's  Island.  The 
name  of  this  little  island,  upon  which  a  chapel  was  built  in 
1873,  was  given  in  memory  of  Dr.  Aylward,  who,  it  seems, 
did  not  disdain  to  partake  in  the  simple  sports  of  that  day. 
One  report  attributes  the  origin  of  the  name  to  the  Doc- 
tor's catching  a  30  pound  (?)  fish  near  the  island:  another, 
that  he  dropped  his  gold-rimmed  spectacles  into  the  waves 
off  the  island  and  never  recovered  them. 

There  was  at  least  one  great  festivity  during  the  school- 
year.  Abbot  Rupert  Seidenbush  had  gone  to  Europe  be- 
fore the  college  was  opened  in  September  1867  and  re- 
turned in  April  1868.  Faculty  and  students  conspired  to 
make  his  return  memorable.  They  decorated  the  building 
with  inscriptions,  transparencies  and  garlands;  the  brass 
band,  composed  of  some  six  pieces,  took  position  in  the 
*  St.  J.  U.  Record,  Vol.  II  pp,  22 


St.     John's     Univeksity  25 

bell  turret  and  with  the  perennially  soothing  strains  of 
"Home,  Sweet  Home"  gladdened  his  second  entrance  into 
the  institution.  Bon-fires  brightened  the  sky  in  the 
evening. 

Towards  the  end  of  June  examinations  were  held,  there- 
suits  of  which  were  published  in  the  N.  W.  Chronicle, 
issue  of  June  27,  and  of  Der  Wandered'  of  the  same  date. 
The  Roll  of  Honor  was  headed  by  the  name  of  John 
Shanley,  followed  by  that  of  Martin  Mclntire.  The  rela- 
tive excellence  of  the  students  in  each  class  was  marked 
by  the  terms  "most  distinguished"  and  "distinguished." 
Honors  were  awarded  in  thirty-six  classes. 

June  24th  was  Commencement  day  or  as  it  was  familiarly 
called  "Exhibition"  day;  for  it  was  one  of  the  fashions  of 
the  age  to  make  an  impressive  demonstration  at  the  close  of 
the  school-term.  The  students  were  prepared  to  make  a 
fine  exhibition  but  there  was  no  hall  for  the  great  audience, 
no  stage  for  themselves.  A  shady,  sheltered  place  was 
selected  on  the  south  side  of  the  building,  towards  the 
lake;  here  a  stage  was  hurriedly  improvised  that  savored 
of  the  best  features  of  the  early  Grecian  theatre.  The 
North  Western  Chronicle  reported  the  event  in  its  issue 
of  July  4,  as  follows:  —  "On  Monday  of  last  week  the  first 
annual  exhibition  of  St.  John's  College,  situated  in  Clinton , 
Stearns  Co.,  Minn,  took  place  under  the  most  flattering 
circumstances.  About  850  persons  were  assembled  to 
witness  the  performance,  which  we  are  informed  was  high- 
ly creditable  to  both  students  and  teachers.  The  Band 
belonging  to  the  College,  but  a  few  months  in  existence 
discoursed  most  excellent  music  on  the  occasion.  The 
exercises  commenced  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  The  following  is 
the  programme  in  full: 

PROGKAMME 

Overture,  St.  Cl'oud  Orchestra 

Introductory  address:  Jos.  Cotter 

"Cherry  Bounce":  a  comic  piece  preformed  by  M.  Huhn     F. 


26  St.    John's    University 

Griebler,  C.  Kerst,  H.  Robbers,  G.  Mitsch,  I.  Broker 
Violin  Solo-by  J.  Hofbauer 
A  treatise  on  History-by  J.  Shanley 
Duett  (comic)-F.  Griebler  and  J.  Hofbauer 
Nant©   Strumpf  (German   comic)-performed  by  F.  Schwartz,  A. 

Moosbrugger  and  D.  Watry. 
Music  by  the  Orchestra 
Violin  Solo-by  J.  Hofbauer 

Duett;  "Hear  Me  Norma"- by  F.  Griebler  and  J.  Hofbauer 
Harvest  Storm,  (a  drama)-performed  by  W.Brennan,  J.  Donovan, 

C.  Williams,   C.   Crever,  J.  Greven,  F.  Schwartz,  J.  Shanley, 

G.  Reis,  Jos.  Waltz  and  J.  B.  Cotter 
Muaic  by  the  Orchestra 
Die  Vogelorgel  (a  German  farcej-performed  by  A.  Moosbrugger, 

F.  Schwartz,  G.  Reis. 
Duett  (Departing  Friends)-by  Griebler  and  Hofbauer 
Music  by  the  Orchestra 
Farewell  address-by  A.  Moosbrugger 
Music  by  the  Orchestra 

Vacation  began;  the  students  departed  for  their  homes; 
the  Band  went  to  St.  Paul  and  furnished  the  music  for  the 
picnic  of  the  Assumption  parish  on  July  4th.  There  was 
no  vacation  at  the  College,  however.  The  stone  building 
had  grown  too  narrow;  an  extension  was  added  to  the  north 
side.  Bowlder  construction  was  abandoned  for  brick,  which 
were  manufactured  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  insti- 
tution. The  addition  was  100x40  feet,  with  cellarage,  two 
stories  and  an  attic.  The  style  was  severely  simple-any- 
thing  more  elaborate  would  have  been  out  of  keeping  with 
the  wild  grandeur  of  surrounding  nature.  For  some  time 
the  first  floor  of  the  addition  (at.  present  the  southern  wing) 
to  which  a  story  was  added  after  the  cyclone  of  1894, 
served  as  a  dining  room  for  the  students,  the  second  floor  as 
study  halls  and  the  attic  as  a  dormitory  and  trunk  room. 

1868-69 

The  new  building  was  not  finished  when  the  next  class 
arrived  in  September.  It  was  under  roof,  however,  by 
November  and  was  partly   occupied.     Two   months   after 


St.     John's    Univeesity  27 

opening  there  were  sixty-five  students  in  attendance.  {Der 
Wanderer,  Nov.  7.  1868.)  With  the  increase  of  accommo- 
dations, the  rates  for  tuition  were  also  raised:  the  sum 
payable  for  annual  tuition  was  now  $180;  for  instruction 
in  music  and  use  of  the  instrument  per  session,  $10. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  the  institution  grew  wealthy 
on  such  an  income,  for  a  number  of  the  ecclesiastical  stu- 
dents whose  expenses  were  paid  from  diocesan  seminary 
collections  were  given  the  benefit  of  a  lower  rate  and  there 
were  not  a  few  poor  students  who  were  unable  to  oflPer 
any  pecuniary  comi3ensation  whatever. 

The  stajBP  of  professors  was  increased  by  the  arrival,  in 
March  1869,  of  Fr.  Ulric  Northman,  a  brother  of  P.  Wolf- 
gang and,  like  him,  an  accomplished  musician.  The  stu- 
dents, Messrs.  J.  B.  Cotter  and  E.  Haase,  were  employed 
to  teach  penmanship  and  drawing. 

A  theological  seminary  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1868. 
Thefirst  students  were  Messrs.  J.  B.  Cotter,  K.  Haase,  J- 
Hesse,  J.  Holzer,  J.  McGrloneand  the  two  clerics,  Fr.  Valen- 
tine and  Fr.  Ulric.  Fr.  Valentine  was  ordained  priest  in 
March.  P.  Alexius  was  instructor  in  Moral  Theology  and 
several  other  branches  in  the  course,  and  Dr.  Aylward  in 
Dogmatic  Theology.  Dr.  Aylward  died  on  Good  Friday 
1887  at  St.  Patrick's  rectory,  Montreal. 

In  March  the  State  Legislature  authorized  the  institu- 
tion to  confer  degrees.  The  Act  is  entitled  "An  Act  to 
authorize  the  Trustees  of  St.  John's  Seminary  to  confer 
degrees  and  grant  diplomas,"  and  specifies: 

Sec.  I.  That  the  board  of  trustees  of  St.  John's  Semi- 
nary shall  have  the  power  to  confer  such  degrees  and  grant 
such  diplomas  in  their  discretion  as  are  usual  in  colleges 
and  universities. 

Sec.  II.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 
Approved  March  5.  1869.* 

St.  Patrick's  day  was  celebrated  with  as  much  magnifi- 
cence as  the  simplicity  of  the  West  afforded.     A  report  in 

*  Special  Laws  of  Minn.  1869  p.  363. 


28  St.    John's    University 

the  N.  W.  Ohronicle  says:  "The  professors  and  students 
of  the  college,  together  with  the  Brothers  of  the  Abbey  cele- 
brated St.  Patrick's  day  by  attending  High  Mass  in  the 
morning,  dispensing  with  study  and  labor  during  the  day 
and  indulging  in  the  thoughts  and  memories  that  sponta- 
neously spring  up  as  the  hallowed  associations  of  the  past 
or  the  fond  hopes  for  the  future  presented  them  to  view.  At 
4  P.  M.  all  sat  down  to  an  entertainment  gotten  up  expressly 
for  the  occasion  by  the  faculty  of  the  institution  and  which 
was  in  every  way  worthy  of  the  day,  the  place  and  those 
who  presented  it.  During  the  feast  the  college  band  dis- 
coursed sweet  music  and  the  choir  burst  forth  with  the  most 
rapturous  songs,  the  joy  of  the  college  students  celebrating, 
the  eloquent  and  appropriate  remarks  of  the  speakers,  the 
feast  of  reason  and  flow  of  soul  of  the  professors,  taken  al- 
together served  to  transplant  all  into  an  enchanted  place, 
where  a  spring  of  perpetual  youth  washed  away  all  the  ills 
that  flesh  is  heir  to."  Which  report,  incidentally,  bears 
witness  that  in  those  cradle  days  there  were  some  scribes 
possessed  of  no  mean  skill  in  blarney. 

There  was  about  this  time  a  pet  bear  at  the  college:  he 
answered  to  the  name  of  Muro,  was  droll  and  playful  and 
enjoyed  the  freedom  of  the  place.  Gus  Beaulieu  was  his 
trainer.  Muro  would  appear  on  the  scene,  in  season  and  out 
of  season,  in  the  dining  room,  in  the  class  room,  in  the  dor- 
mitory. During  the  two  years  of  his  sojourn  here  he  had 
not  been  known  to  do  any  harm,  and  every  human  being 
had  instinctively  been  kind  to  him.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  school  year,-on  June  2.-one  of  the  students,  Sylvester 
Sheare  of  St.  Paul,  happened  to  be  playing  with  the  beast; 
he  struck  the  animal  which,  infuriated  by  such  unusual 
treatment,  pursued  him,  overtook  him  at  the  lake  shore  and 
bit  him  in  the  throat.  The  boy  died  almost  immediately 
and  was  taken  to  St.  Paul  for  interment  June  5.  Muro 
was  promptly  put  out  of  existence  by  a  musket  shot. 

This  sad  episode  cast  a  gloom  over  the  closing  weeks 
of  the  term,  and   seems  to  be  the  reason  why  the  celebra- 


St.    John's    University  29 

tion  of  St.  Boniface  day  (June  5)  was  omitted  this  year. 
Nevertheless,  the  semi-annual  examinations  were  held 
and  the  academic  year  was  solemnly  closed  by  an  exhibition 
on  St.  John's  day,  June  24.  A  report  of  the  results  of  the 
examination  vas  published  in  the  N.  W.  Chronicle. 

In  a  spacious  hall  erected  for  the  purpose  near  the  lake 
about  700  ( ?)  visitors  had  assembled.  The  programme  in- 
cluded: "The  Plot  of  Potzentausend,  a  comedy;  "Nach 
Cayenne,  a  farce:  "A  Sudden  Arrival,"  a  farce;  speeches  and 
musical  selections,  followed  by  the  distribution  of  "pre- 
miums." Among  the  visitors  at  the  College  during  the 
annual  commencement  were  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Grace, 
who  arrived  at  the  College  from  St.  Joseph,  where  he  had 
officiated  at  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  cornerstone  of  the 
new  church;  Rev.  John  Ireland,  St.  Paul,  Rev.  Jas.  Gol- 
rick,  of  Minneapolis  and  several  Benedictine  Fathers  from 
various  points  in  Stearns  County. 

During  this  year  there  were  enrolled  84  students,  40  of 
whom  were  preparing  for  the  sacred  ministry  and  the  rest 
for  secular  pursuits.  Among  the  students  were,  "Gus" 
Beaulieu,  some  time  deputy  U.  S.  marshal  and  known  as 
"the  watchdog  of  the  Chippewas"  in  the  Indian  country; 
John  Caulfield,  Secretary  of  the  St.  Paul  Water  Co., 
Francis  Cotter,  brother  of  Jos.  B.;  Wm.  Markoe,  who  is 
prominent  in  Catholic  movements  in  the  West  and  is  a  fre- 
quent contributor  to  Catholic  papers  and  magazines ;  Fran- 
cis Mershman,  who  has  been  connected  with  the  College 
as  a  professor  ever  since,  and  Nicholas  Steil  at  present  P. 
Gregory,  Subprior  of  the  Abbey. 

1869  —  70. 

The  two  buildings  hitherto  occupied  by  the  College  soon 
proved  close  quarters.  It  was  desirable  to  have  the  eccle- 
siastical seminary  entirely  separated  from  the  other  depart- 
ments; moreover,  there  was  no  sufficient  supply  of  recita- 
tion rooms  and,  above  all,  it  was  necessary  to  separate  the 


30  St.    John's    University 

monastery  from  the  school.  Work  was  begun  on  a  new 
building  in  the  summer  of  1869,  but  such  difficulties  were 
encountered  in  digging  for  the  foundation  that  work  pro- 
ceeded slowly  and  the  building  was  not  ready  for  use  until 
fall  1871. 

In  October  1869  five  new  members  of  the  Order  arrived: 
Frs.  Vincent  Schiffrer  Edmund  Schwartz,  Bernard  Locni- 
kar  and  Alphonse  Kuisle,  who  had  just  finished  the  year 
of  noviciate  at  St.  Vincent's.  These,  together  with  Frs. 
Boniface  Moll  and  Simplicius  Wimmer,  who  had  arrived 
in  June,  formed  a  welcome  addition  to  the  staff.  A  corres- 
pondent informs  Der  Wanderer  (issue  of  Nov.  20,  1869) 
that  the  attendance  by  November  14  was  78;  that  the  quar- 
terly examination  had  just  been  held  and  the  reports  sent 
to  the  parents  of  the  students. 

New  Year's  day  1870  was  saddened  by  the  death  of  Max 
Schmoeger,  one  of  the  most  exemplary  and  popular  stu- 
dents of  the  classical  course.  From  a  brief  obituary  writ- 
ten for  the  press  by  Fr.  Boniface,  it  appears  that  Schmoe- 
ger was  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  when  he  died. 
He  had  left  his  parents  and  home  in  Europe  in  February 
1868  with  the  intention  of  becoming  a  religious  and  a 
priest,  but  a  short  and  severe  illness  cut  him  off  in  the 
flower  of  his  youth.  He  rests  in  the  common  cemetery  at 
St.  John's.  Many  years  later  his  aged  mother  begged 
that  a  flower  or  some  dust  from  the  grave  be  sent  her, 
that  she  might  have  some  remembrance  of  her  child  that 
slept  in  a  far  distant  country. 

On  February  9  there  was  a  public  disputation,  or  debate, 
conducted  by  the  seminarians  in  presence  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Abbot  and  faculty.  Nine  theses  covered  questions  relat- 
ing to  the  marks  of  the  Church,  its  infallible  teaching 
authority,  the  Primacy  of  St,  Peter  and  the  authority  and 
infallibility  of  the  Roman  Pontiffs.  Record  is  also 
extant  of  a  debate  on  February  24  of  the  question.  Resol- 
ved, that  capital  punishment  should  be  abolished.  The 
disputants   were   J.    B.   Cotter,   President   of    the   Grace 


St.     John's    University  81 

Literary  Association,  supported  by  two  assistants,  for  the 
affirmative  and  J.  Keenan  with  similar  support,  for  the 
negative;  while  P.  Wolfgang  presided  and  decided  the 
debate  upon  its  merits. 

St.  Patrick's  day  was  not  forgotten:  High  Mass  was 
sung  in  the  morning  and  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  preached  in 
the  afternoon.  Later  there  were  speeches,  songs  and 
instrumental  music. 

On  May  8  young  Ignatius  Hole  in  the  Day  —  orFairday, 
as  his  name  appears  in  the  college  books  —  son  of  the 
famous  Chippewa  chief  who  was  killed  in  1868,  and  at  the 
time  a  student  at  St.  John's,  was  baptized  by  Rev.  I. 
Tomazin.  On  the  same  occasion  the  student  Robert  Kelly 
received  the  sacrament  of  baptism;  his  father  was  present 
during  the  ceremonies. 

The  St.  Boniface  Literary  Association  which  was  foun- 
ded in  the  fall  of  1869  prepared  a  celebration  of  the  great 
Apostle  of  Germany  on  June  6.  "Spectator"  informs  the 
press  that  the  Association  then  had  about  fort}^  members. 
In  the  morning  of  the  feast  the  entire  student  body  atten- 
ded at  solemn  High  Mass  and  the  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion received  Holy  Communion.  The  afternoon  was 
pleasantly  spent  in  a  picnic  with  music  and  declamations 
on  the  Eirenesos  (Isle  of  Peace),  known  later  as  the  "Bri- 
tish Isles." 

It  had  hitherto  been  customary  to  close  school  for  the 
summer  on  St.  John's  day,  June  24;  the  present  year  was 
an  exception,  for  the  exhibition  took  place  on  June  28. 
Several  hundred  people  from  the  neighboring  country 
flocked  in  to  witness  the  event.  Rain  early  in  the  morn- 
ing threatened  to  mar  the  joy  of  the  day,  but  the  sun 
blazed  out  from  behind  the  clouds  towards  midday  and  the 
exhibition  began.  The  students,  preceded  by  the  flag  and 
band,  marched  to  the  hall  where  an  entertainment  was 
given,  followed  by  the  distribution  of  premiums. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  College  an 
Annual   Catalogue  was  issued  this  year.     It  was   a  neat 


32  St.     John's    University 

little  publication  from  the  press  of  "■The  Wanderer^''''  8t. 
Paul,  and  in  its  24  pages  affords  an  insight  into  the  doings 
of  the  College  thirty-seven  years  ago.  In  the  opening 
statement  is  to  be  found  the  information  that  "St.  John's 
is  situated  at  a  distance  of  eighty-six  miles  from  St.  Paul, 
seventy-four  miles  of  which  are  accessible  by  the  St.  Paul 
&  Pacific  Rail  Road,  the  remaining  twelve  miles  by  stage 
or  private  conveyance."  St.  Joseph,  the  nearest  town,  was 
the  station  for  mail;  there  was  no  railway  or  telegraph 
line  west  of  the  river  as  yet.  The  attractiveness  of  the 
locality  is  described  thus:  "The  highly  picturesque 
grounds  of  the  College  border  to  the  south  on  a  beautiful 
lake,  six  miles  in  circumference  and  abounding  in  fish. 
To  the  west  is  Lake  Watab  from  which  flows  the  Watab 
River,  beautiful  in  its  windings  through  the  valleys  as  the 
Peneus  through  the  Thessalian  Tempe  of  old."  It  announ- 
ces that  "the  main  building  now  under  construction,  will 
be  completed  this  year.  It  will  be  one  hundred  feet  long 
by  fifty  feet  wide  and  four  stories  in  height.  It  is  almost 
superfluous  to  add  that  the  play-grounds  are  more  than 
ample  enough  for  all  kinds  of  recreation." 

Under  the  heading  of  "Regulations"  were  rules  regard- 
ing degrees,  examinations  and  quarterly  reports,  permis- 
sion to  leave  College  during  the  term,  use  of  tobacco,  and 
mail.  The  "Terms"  for  a  session  of  five  months  were:  for 
Tuition  and  Board,  $90;  for  Washing  and  Bedding,  |5; 
for  Drawing,  $8;  for  Music  and  use  of  instruments,  |10. 
Not  unfrequently  colleges  in  those  days  specified  with 
what  articles  of  clothing  and  other  effects  the  student 
should  be  furnished  when  entering  school:  some  required 
that  the  student  should  furnish  his  own  bedding;  one,  at 
least,  suggested  that  each  pupil  have  a  full  supply  of 
postage  stamps.  In  the  catalogue  under  consideration  is 
the  provision:  Every  student  must  be  provided  with  four 
suits  of  clothing,  differing^according  to  the  seasons:  six 
shirts,  six  pairs  of  stockings,  six  pocket-handkerchiefs,  six 
towels,  two  pairs  shoes  or  boots,  two  pairs  slippers,  clothes 


LIBRAHY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.     John's    University  33 

and  blacking  brushes,  and  one  pair  swimming  drawers." 
Fortunately,  the  i^upil  whose  purse  did  not  permit  him  to 
set  up  a  wardrobe  of  such  magnificent  proportions  as  indi- 
cated in  the  above  suggestion,  was  not  refused  admission. 

The  "Course  of  Studies"  is  concisely  stated  on  one  page: 
it  comprised  three  divisions  —  the  Elementary  School,  the 
Classical  Course,  and  the  Theological  Course.  In  the 
Elementary  School  instruction  was  given  in  Spelling, 
Reading,  Penmanship,  Arithmetic  and  Catechism.  No 
time  was  specified  in  which  this  course  could  be  finished; 
students  were  advanced  into  the  other  courses  as  their 
attainments  warranted.  The  collegiate  or  Classical  course 
comprised  six  classes:  the  Sixth,  or  lowest,  was  styled  the 
First  Class  of  Elements,  and  it  was  followed  by  the  Second 
Class  of  Elements,  Humanities.  Poetry,  Ehetoric  and  Phi- 
losophy. The  branches  studied  in  the  lowest  class  of  this 
course  were  Latin  grammar,  English  grammar,  German 
grammar,  Bible  History,  Geography  and  Arithmetic.  The 
Latin  course  was  finished  in  five  years;  also  the  English 
and  German  courses.  History  was  a  subject  throughout 
the  entire  course.  Arithmetic  was  finished  in  the  second 
year.  Algebra  in  the  fourth;  Geometrj^  and  Trigonometry 
were  the  highest  branches  of  mathematics  taught  and 
occupied  the  fifth  year.  Greek  was  introduced  in  the  third 
year  and  Rhetoric  in  the  fourth.  For  students  who  did 
not  intend  to  j^repare  for  the  ministry  there  was  a  class  in 
Bookkeeping.  The  first,  or  highest  class  studied  mental 
and  moral  Philosophy. 

The  theological  course  comj^rised  Dogmatic  and  ]Moral 
Theology.  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Sacred  Scripture, 
and  was  finished  in  three  years. 

In  the  list  of  the  Faculty,  P.  Wolfgang  is  styled  Presi- 
dent and  P.  Alexius,  Vice  President;  P.  Valentine  and  Fr. 
Edmund  are  mentioned  as  disciplinarians.  P.  Ulric  is 
mentioned  as  professor  of  Music,  Latin.  History  etc;  his 
name  is  followed  by  that  of  Rev.  J.  Meurs,  a  secular 
clergyman;    then    follow  four    younger    members    of   the 


34  St.    John's    University 

Order,  Frs.  Boniface,  Simplicius,  Alphonse  and  Bernard 
(subsequently  Abbot  and  President).  Mr.  J.  B.  Cotter 
was  employed  as  professor  of  Arithmetic  and  Penmanship^ 
Mr.  J.  B.  Nealis,  as  professor  of  Algebra;  Mr.  W.  Brennan, 
of  Arithmetic,  Mr.  P.  Mershman,  of  Geometry,  Messrs  J. 
Keenan  and  J.  Leuthard  as  professors  of  Bookkeeping  and 
Mr.  N.  Steil  as  teacher  of  Drawing  and  Architecture. 

Although  the  institution  had  been  authorized  to  confer 
degrees  early  in  1869,  the  right  had  not  hitherto  been  exer- 
cised. On  June  24,  1870  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts 
was  conferred  on  Fr.  Boniface  Moll  and  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  on  Fr.  Simplicius  Wimmer,  Alphonse 
Kuisle,  Bernard  Locnikar  and  Messrs.  J.  B.  Cotter  and  J. 
Nealis,  both  of  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

Three  student  organizations  are  noticed  in  the  Catalogue: 
the  Sodality  of  the  B.  V.  M.,  the  Grace  Literary  Associa- 
tion and  the  St.  Boniface  Literary  Association.  A  special 
chapter  will  be  devoted  to  the  history  of  the  various  orga- 
nizations, religious,  literary,  musical  and  dramatic. 

Space  is  also  given  the  programme  of  the  "Third  Annual 
Exhibition,"  the  leading  features  of  which,  aside  from  the 
music,  were  the  Introductory  Address  by  J.  Caulfield:  two 
farces,  "The  People's  Lawyer"  and  "Lord  McDonald";  a 
Latin  essay  on  the  utility  of  Philosophy  by  Mr.  V.  Reith- 
meyer,  a  Greek  oration  on  Virtue  by  W.  Maehren  and  a 
FreQch  essay  by  N.  Steil  on  the  Study  of  Languages;  the 
Valedictory  was  delivered  by  J.  B.  Cotter. 

Then  follows  the  Catalogue  of  Students  who  were  in 
attendance  during  the  academic  year  '69-'70.  It  contains 
94  names:  12  for  the  ecclesiastical  and  82  for  the  classical 
course.  Four  of  the  Seminarians  were  destined  to  exer- 
cise the  ministry  in  the  diocese  of  St.  Paul  and  one  in 
the  Vicariate  Apostolic  of  Colorado.  Of  the  classical  stu- 
dents the  bulk  was  furnished  by  Minnesota;  the  states  of 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky 
were  also  represented.  Premiums  were  awarded  in  18 
branches  and  40  classes. 


St.    John's    University  35 

1870-71 

The  following  school  year  was  inaugurated  in  the  second 
week  of  September  by  a  Solemn  High  Mass  celebrated  by 
the  Rev.  President;  after  which  the  rules  and  statutes  of 
the  College  were  read  and  explained  by  the  President  and 
classes  began.  Scanty  shreds  of  history  remain  of  this 
year.  On  October  5,  feast  of  St.  Placidus,  the  students 
marched  to  St,  Joe  in  a  body.  A  venerable  old  diary 
tells  us  there  was  midnight  Mass  on  Christmas,  and  that 
on  the  three  days  following,  Fr.  Boniface  Moil  received  the 
higher  Orders  in  St.  Paul. 

The  number  of  students  in  attendance  was  gratifying:  a 
correspondent  of  the  press  says  there  were  67  in  attendance 
in  the  first  week  in  October. 

When  Pius  IX  had  deen  despoiled  of  his  temporalities 
in  1870  by  Victor  Emmanuel  and  the  Papal  States  had  been 
pronounced  a  part  of  united  Italy,  millions  of  faithful 
Catholics  raised  their  voices  in  protest  against  this  act  of 
violence.  The  "first  protest  from  Minnesota"  was  drawn 
up  and  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  faculty  and  students  of 
St.  John's.  The  document  fills  nearly  two  columns  of  Der 
Wanderer  (Jan.  21.  1871)  and  reads  in  part;  "At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  superiors,  faculty  and  students  of  St.  John's 
College,  on  Sunday  January  15,  1871  to  express  their  sym- 
pathy with  the  Holy  Father,  addresses  were  delivered,  a 
subscription  of  $44.65  was  taken  up,  and  the  following 
protest  read  and  adopted: 

'We  the  Abbot,  superiors,  professors  and  students  of 
St.  John's  College  with  utmost  aversion  behold  the  injustice 
done  our  Holy  Father  by  Victor  Emmanuel,  the  so-called 
king  of  Italy,  and  therefore  we  raise  this  solemn  protest 
against  the  sacrilegious  injustice  and  detestable  robbery. 
We  hope  that  every  lover  of  justice,  whatever  his  creed  may 
be,  will  join  us  in  raising  a  voice  of  protest  against  this  in- 
justice; an  injustice,  a  robbery  greater  than  any  that  has 
ever  degraded  the  human  race.     In  making  this  protest, 


36  St.    John's    University 

we  maintain  that  no  potentate  of  Euroije  wears  the  crown 
with  such  a  well  established  right  as  the  Pope,  whose  title 
to  the  Patrimony  of  Peter  dates  from  the  gray  past  and  is 
therefore  venerable  and  sacred.  The  Holy  Father  does  not 
hold  this  Patrimony  for  his  own  personal  emolument,  but 
for  the  benefit  and  interest  of  the  entire  Catholic  world. . . . 
In  union  with  200  millions  of  Catholics  we  protest  and  as- 
sert that  the  injustice  done  the  Holy  Father,  his  rights, 
privileges  and  immunities  arouses  in  us  the  same  feelings 
as  if  our  own  and  personal  property  had  been  in  question." 
It  is  an  eloquent  and  vigorous  denunciation  of  a  wrong 
that  deeply  affects  the  entire  Catholic  communion  and 
stands  as  a  monument  of  the  zeal  and  loyalty  of  the  class 
of  '71. 

On  March  4  died  the  scholastic  Martin  Mclntire  after  an 
illness  of  twenty  weeks.  At  7  a.  m.  of  March  7  the  office 
of  the  Dead  was  recited  by  the  community,  after  which 
there  was  a  solemn  Requiem  Mass,  followed  by  a  sermon  by 
P.  Alexius.     The  E-t.  Rev.  Abbot  officiated  at  the  burial. 

A  Requiem  was  sung  March  16  for  a  student,  Michael 
Gruber  of  St.  Joseph,  Minn.,  who  had  died  of  typhoid  fever  at 
his  home. 

The  chapel  furniture  was  increased  by  the  installment  of 
a  reed  organ  of  French  manufacture  on  March  20.  It  did 
good  service  in  the  humble  chapel  and  as  late  as  1886  in 
the  present  church.  Fathers  Wolfgang  and  Ulric  were 
both  able  organists. 

St.  Patrick's  day  was  celebrated  by  a  solemn  High  Mass, 
but  as  it  fell  on  a  Friday  in  Lent,  the  secular  celebration 
was  transferred  to  Tuesday  following,  which  was  the  feast 
of  St.  Benedict.  On  May  18.  six  students,  among  them  the 
Indian  chief  Ignatius  Hole-in-the-Day,  received  their  first 
Holy  Communion.  June  16,  was  the  feast  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  and  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  election  of 
Pope  Pius  IX.  There  was  solemn  High  Mass  by  Prior 
Benedict,    P.    Alexius    and    Fr.    Alphonse.     P.    Alexius 


St.     John's    Univeesity  37 

preached  an  appropriate  sermon  and  the  celebration  was 
closed  with  a  Te  Deum, 

The  closing  exercises  of  the  academic  year  took  place 
on  June  28.  According  to  the  catalogue,  which  in  its  main 
features  is  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding  year,  the  staff 
of  professors  was  composed  of  seventeen  members.  The 
only  degree  conferred  this  year  was  that  of  Bachelor  of 
Arts  upon  Messrs.  Timothy  Murphy,  Vincent  Reitmeyer 
and  William  Brennan.  The  programme  of  Exhibition  day 
included  music,  vocal  and  instrumental,  two  comedies,  'The 
Photograph"  and  "My  Cousin  Coming  forth  from  his  Rural 
Retreat"  and  orations  in  four  different  languages.  F.  Cot- 
ter delivered  the  introductory  address  and  Jos.  Scbultethe 
valedictory.  During  the  year  the  total  enrollment  of  stu- 
dents was  96,  of  whom  15  were  in  the  theological  and  81 
in  all  the  other  courses. 

1871-72. 

On  September  7.  work  was  resumed:  the  staff  had  been 
increased  by  seven  members,  Frs.  Meinrad  Leuthard,  Pla- 
cidus  Watry,  Francis  Mershman,  Pancratius  Maehren,  Paul 
Rettenmaier  and  Aloysius  Hermanutz.  Fr.  Meinrad  had 
taken  a  special  course  in  an  Eastern  business  college  and 
now  took  charge  of  the  commercial  class ;  Fr.  Francis  con- 
tinued to  teach  mathematics,  Fr.  Pancratius  organized  a 
class  in  natural  philosophy  and  fitted  up  a  physical  cabinet 
in  the  stone  building,  while  Frs.  Paul  and  Aloysius  con- 
ducted classes  in  languages. 

Joy  and  gloom  alternated  here  as  they  do  in  the  great 
world  as  well.  St.  Patrick's  day  was  celebrated  with 
speeches  and  music.  In  April  a  bowling  alley  was  instal- 
led for  the  use  of  the  students.  On  the  7th  of  the  same 
month  the  scholastic  John  Bonne  died  and  was  buried  on 
the  local  cemetery.  When  two  days  later  the  namesday  of 
the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  was  celebrated,  there  was  no  music,  in 
token  of  respect  for  the  memory  of  the  deceased.  At  the 
entertainment  on  the  feast  of  St.  Rupert,  the  drama 
"Bishop  Paulinus"  was  performed. 


38  St.    John's    University 

For  the  celebration  of  St.  Boniface  day,  June  5,  a  grove 
at  the  eastern  end  of  the  lake  and  for  many  years  there- 
after called  Boniface  Place,  was  selected.  There,  under  the 
shade  of  large  oaks  rustic  tables  and  benches  had  been 
set  up  and  there,  after  the  ecclesiastical  celebration,  the 
day  was  to  be  spent  in  a  gleeful  picnic.  To  the  disappoint- 
ment of  all,  a  heavy  rain  marred  this  feature  of  the  cele- 
bration and  the  exercises  took  place  in  the  hall  of  the  new 
(main)  building.  Addresses  were  delivered  in  German  by 
Fr.  Bernard  Locnikar,  Fr.  Aloysius  and  Messrs.  John  Win- 
ter and  Frank  Schlick  and  a  vocal  quartette  filled  the  in- 
tervals with  selections. 

"On  June  26,"  says  a  correspondent  of  Der  Wanderer 
(July  6,  1872), "an  exhibition  was  held  at  St.  John's  College. 
Many  friends  of  the  institution  had  appeared  to  witness 
the  closing  act.  All  lived  in  hopes  that  it  would  be  a  fine 
day,  for,  it  is  said,  every  carriage  in  St.  Cloud  had  been 
engaged  on  the  day  before,  but  alas!  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  the  26th  it  began  to  thunder,  lighten  and  rain 
The  storm  did  not  interfere  with  the  customary  High  Mass, 
at  which  P.  Alexius  officiated,  assisted  by  P.  Valentine 
and  P.  Bernard.  At  the  end  of  the  service,  prospects  for 
a  pleasant  day  were  still  doubtful.  What  is  most  surpris- 
ing is  that  the  visitors  who  had  not  yet  arrived  were  not 
deterred  by  the  bad  weather,  but  came  despite  rain  and  al- 
most impassable  roads.  About  one  o'clock  p.  m.  the  sky 
grew  clear,  and  the  doors  of  the  new  exhibition  hall  were 
thrown  open."  This  new  hall  was  a  plain  frame  structure 
on  slightly  rising  ground  northeast  of  the  College,  was  110 
ft.  long  by  30  wide,  without  any  interior  finish,  but  equipped 
with  a  spacious  stage,  drop-curtain  and  scenery.  It  served 
as  an  exhibition  hall  and  for  other  gatherings  as  late  as 
1881  but  was  torn  down  in  1892. 

The  programme  consisted  of  musical  selections,  essays, 
a  sacred  drama-"  Joseph  in  Egypt,"  the  drama  "Paulinus, 
Bishop  of  Nola"  (in  German)  and  a  farce,  "The  Natura- 
list."    Mas.  Herman  Erren   pronounced  the    introductory 


St.    John's    Univeesity  39 

address  and  Mr.  P.  Kenny  the  valedictory.  Among  the  es- 
sayists were  Mr.  Alexander  Christie,  the  present  Archbishop 
of  Portland  and  Mr.  Max  Wnrst,  later  rector  of  St. 
Felix's  Church,  Wabasha,  Minn. 

The  catalogue  of  1872  records  the  name  of  22  professors 
and  106  students;  of  the  latter,  20  were  in  the  theological 
course  and  86  in  all  the  other  courses.  No  degrees  were 
conferred  during  the  year. 

During  the  vacation  which  followed,  the  clerics  and  scho- 
lastics who  remained  at  the  College  built  a  chapel  of  brick 
on  "Doctor's  Island,"  which  was  henceforth  to  be  called  by 
the  title  of  the  chapel  "Maris  Stella."  The  building 
material  was  carried  to  the  island  on  boats:  on  July  11,  at 
four  o'clock  p.  m.  the  corner  stone  was  placed  in  position 
by  Fr.  Vincent  and  by  the  end  of  July  the  neat  structure 
was  finished.  It  was  about  16  ft.  long  by  12  ft.  wide,  in  the 
Gothic  style,  with  ornamental  brickwork  and  a  wooden  spire^ 
which  was  painted  white.  For  some  reason  the  interior 
was  not  finished  at  the  time  and  no  services  were  held  in 
it.  If  it  served  no  other  purpose,  it  lent  a  soft  charm  to 
the  landscape,  as  it  gleamed  from  its  deep  green  setting  of 
foliage  and  was  mirrored  in  the  calm  waters  at  its  foot. 
In  1889  a  floor  was  laid  in  it,  the  walls  were  plastered,  a 
small  altar  erected  and  several  pictures  hung  on  the  walls. 
Many  a  stroller  on  a  summer's  afternoon  found  his  way  to 
the  humble  shrine  and  spent  a  few  moments  in  devotion 
to  Our  Lady  of  the  Lake.  The  chapel  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  April  1903. 

P.  Alexius  Edelbrock  was  appointed  President  of  the 
College  at  the  opening  of  the  school  year.  P.  Wolfgang 
remained  at  the  institution  for  some  time  after  retiring 
from  office,  continuing  to  teach  music  and  other  branches. 

Classwork  was  resumed  on  September  7,  but  the  formal 
opening,  reading  of  the  rules,  etc.  did  not  take  place  before 
the  9th.  In  the  early  days  of  the  schoolyear,  September 
29,  Fr.  Simplicius  Wimmer  and  Mr.  John  Nealis,  were  or- 
dained priests.     Both  are  now  dead:  Kev.  J.  Nealis  died  in 


40  St.    John's    University 

1885  and  P.  Simplicins  on  August  5,  1905.  On  September 
30,  the  students  played  a  match  game  of  base-ball  at  St. 
Joseph:  there  is  no  record  of  the  score. 

On  October  3,  a  solemn  Requiem  was  sung  for  a  deceased 
sodalist  and  former  student,  Christian  Gassner,  who  had 
died  of  small  pox  at  Chicago.  The  Sodality  with  pious 
solicitude  has  never  in  the  long  course  of  years  failed  to 
afford  what  solace  it  could  to  its  deceased  members,  and 
the  above  instance  is  mentioned  as  typical  of  its  practice 
in  this  respect. 

It  is  characteristic  of  the  students  of  that  day  that  they 
helped  themselves  and  did  not  like,  the  redoubtable  Cap- 
tain of  Plymouth,  "leave  it  to  others,"  even  in  such  an  unro- 
mantic  enterprise  as  leveling  the  campus.  They  plied  the 
shovel  and  the  pick  with  an  energy  that  stimulated  their 
appetite  and  made  them  feel  proud  of  their  handiwork. 

On  October  30  the  students  ofPered  their  congratulations 
to  P.  Wolfgang  on  the  eve  of  his  namesday  Addresses 
were  delivered  in  Latin,  German  and  English. 

For  the  first  time  since  1860  the  institution  mourned  the 
loss  of  one  of  the  members  of  the  faculty.  Fr.  Edmund 
Schwartz,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Order  since  1869 
and  had  almost  finished  the  studies  of  the  theological 
course,  was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  suspend  studies. 
During  the  fall  he  spent  a  few  weeks  visiting  his  parents 
in  La  Crosse,  Wis.  and  there  he  died  November  17.  The 
interment  took  place  at  La  Crosse. 

On  November  20  Fr.  Bernard,  although  still  a  cleric 
with  Minor  Orders,  was  appointed  Vice  President  of  the 
College,  which  office  he  held  to  the  end  of  the  academic 
year. 

About  this  time  the  St.  Vincent  extension  of  the  St.  Paul 
&  Pacific  railway  line  was  finished  as  far  as  Melrose.  The 
line  passed  through  the  college  lands,  within  a  mile  of  the 
house,  but  St.  Joseph  became  and  for  seven  years  remained 
the  nearest  passenger  station.     It  was  a  great  convenience 


St.    John's    University  41 

in  every  respect  not  only  for  the  College  but  also  for  the 
missionary  priests. 

Early  in  1878  the  semiannual  examinations,  which  con- 
sumed an  entire  week,  were  held.  "Six  classes  —  the  exami- 
nation of  each  lasting  an  hour  —  were  daily  disposed  of." 
These  examinations  were  public  for  the  greater  part,  and 
were  held  in  the  large  study-hall,  in  the  presence  of  all  the 
professors. 

St.  Boniface  day  was  celebrated  in  the  grove  at  Boniface 
Place  and  no  rain  came  to  dampen  the  pleasure  of  the  oc- 
casion. Adam  Steffes  was  marshal  of  the  feast  and 
among  the  speakers  were  J.  Bassler,  N.  Steil.  M.  Wurst 
and  Fr.  Simplicius. 

June  26  was  Exhibition  day.  The  exercises  began  at  9 
o'clock  and  lasted  almost  five  hours.  There  was  music, 
vocal  and  instrumental,  followed  by  addresses,  essays  and 
orations,  besides  two  plays,  "The  Ghost,"  in  three  acts,  and 
"Inigo,"  a  German  drama  in  four  acts,  after  which  the 
premiums  were  distributed.  The  authoress,  "Minnie  Mary 
Lee"  of  Sauk  Rapids,  a  frequent  visitor  on  such  occasions, 
wrote  a  report  of  the  celebration  for  the  N.  W.  Chronicle, 
from  which  a  few  extracts  will  not  be  entirely  devoid  of  in- 
terest: "St.  John's,  where  it  is,  is  a  happy  surprise,"  she 
writes.  "You  may  have  heard  its  name  called  frequently 
—  have  heard  that  it  was  prospering,  that  it  had  many 
students — that  it  was  situated  some  three  or  four  miles  from 
St.  Joseph,  a  small  town  of  little  note  —  but  you  have  no 
great  expectations  about  it  —  the  people  all  around  about 
are  a  farming  community,  how  can  anything  very  aston- 
ishing in  the  educational  line  have  arisen  in  their  midst? 
Can  any  good  come  out  of  Nazareth?  You  receive  a  card 
invitation  to  the  exhibition.  You  wonder  if  it  is  really 
worth  your  while  to  go.  Were  it  a  hundred  miles  away, 
you  would  be  more  inclined.  But  right  here  at  home? 
Still,  there  is  so  little  of  other  entertainments,  and  you  start. 
It  is  a  fine  road  leading  to  St.  Joe  (from  St.  Cloud,)  through 
fine  farms.     White   houses  with  green  blinds  have  taken 


42  St.    John's    University 

the  place  of  many  a  primitive  shanty  and  log-house. 
Leaving  St.  Joe,  you  take  the  college  road  which  is  up  and 
down  hill  through  a  magnificent  forest.  The  way  does 
not  seem  so  long,  because  it  is  so  unusual  a  one  for  our 
State.  You  admire  the  tall,  graceful  trees,  as  do  evidently 
also  the  squirrels  and  birds,  whose  twitter  and  music  fill 
the  air.  There  is  a  long  line  of  carriages  winding  over 
hills  in  front  of  you  and  a  stream  behind  as  far  as  you  can 
see.  Carriages?  Most  of  them  are  farm  wagons,  loaded  to 
the  brim  with  whole  families 

I  had  thought  to  tell  you  something  of  the  exhibition. 
After  all,  what  is  in  a  school  or  college  exhibition  that  may 
be  particularly  described?  Plays  and  dramas  in  English 
and  German,  well  selected  and  very  creditably  acted;  ora- 
tions in  Greek,  Latin,  French,  German  and  English,  and 
oh !  such  music,  both  plaintive  and  lively,  and  all  sweet  and 
beautiful. .  . . 

No  marvel  the  Germans  turn  out  in  crowds:  they  are 
proud  of  St.  John's,  their  sons'  Alma  Mater,  Though  they 
may  not  go  elsewhere,  save  to  Mass,  for  all  the  year,  they 
gather  up  their  children  and  make  the  pilgrimage.  They 
have  something  to  look  forward  to  and  something  to 
remember." — And  if  the  exhibitions  of  those  days  with  all 
the  labor  they  involved  brightened  for  a  few  hours  the  lives 
of  the  good  people  who  came  to  the  college  on  such  occa- 
sions, they  had  some  reason  for  their  beini?. 

The  catalogue,  printed  by  the  St.  Cloud  Press,  contains 
few  new  features.  Twenty  professors  are  mentioned  on 
the  staff,  among  them  Mr.  Alexander  Christie  (now  arch- 
bishop of  Portland.)  The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was 
conferred  on  Frs.  Francis  Mershmati,  Aloysius  Hermanutz 
and  Paul  Rettenmaier;  eight  students  took  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Accounts,  which  was  this  year  conferred  for  the 
first  tiaie.  The  first  graduates  of  the  Commercial  class  were 
Frank  Schlick  and  William  Hamm,  of  St.  Paul,  J.  J. 
Byrnes,  of  Faribault,  Peter  Fehn,  of  St.  Michael,  Thos. 
Young,  of  Arlington,  Adam  Steifes,  of  Old  Mission,    Iowa, 


St.     John's    Univeesity  43 

William  Eversmann,  c-f  St.  Augusta  and  Francis  Cotter,  of 
Winona.  On  the  roll  were  the  names  of  113  students:  11 
secular  seminarians,  16  regular  seminarians  (clerics)  and 
86  students  in  all  other  departments — a  slight  increase 
over  the  last  year. 

1873-74 

P.  Bernard  Locnikar  was  succeeded  in  the  vice-presidency 
of  the  college  by  P.  Ulric  Northman,  who  held  the  office 
till  spring  1885.  Gifted  with  a  sympathetic  nature.  Father 
Ulric  won  and  retained  the  attachment  and  esteem  of  all 
the  students  year  after  year.  He  continued  to  teach  mu- 
sic and  developed  the  musieal  organizations  to  such  a  de- 
gree of  excelh^uce  that  they  received  many  a  word  of  com- 
mendation from  critics. 

So  quiet  was  the  course  of  events  during  the  schoolyear^ 
that  chronists  found  little  to  note.  The  few  newspaper  ar- 
ticles still  preserved  are  accounts  of  society  elections,  celebra- 
tions of  annual  recurrence  or  an  occasional  academic  ef- 
fort of  some  aspiring  journalist.  From  this  dearth  of  data 
it  may  be  inferred  that  everyone  was  seriously  at  work  at 
the  daily  tasks  in  the  intellectual  workshop.  There  were, 
of  course,  the  usual  quarterly  examinations,  the  vacations, 
the  feasts  to  vary  the  sameness  of  schoolroom  routine. 

On  exhibition  day,  June  24,  about  600  visitors  are  repor- 
ted to  have  been  present:  among  them  the  Revs.  Joseph 
Buh,  Augustine  Wirth,  O.  S.  B.,  Aloys.  Plut  and  G. 
Koering,  and  also  "Minnie  M.  Lee,"*  who   has  left  us  the 


*  "MiN>'iE  M.  Leb"  is  the  pseudonym  of  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Wood,  one 
of  the  few  Catholic  writers  the  Northwest  has  produced.  From  a 
sketch  written  at  the  time  of  her  death  by  Mr.  H.  C.  Waite,  of  St. 
Cloud,  and  published  in  the  St.  Cloud  Daily  Times  March  10,  1903, 
we  gather  the  following  biographical  data:  —  Mrs.  Wood  was  born 
April  13.  1825  at  New  London,  X.  H.  She  received  a  fine  literary  and 
classical  education  in  the  schools  of  that  state  and,  in  1849,  she  was 
married  to  the  late  W.  H.  Wood,  who  died  in  1870.  With  her  hus- 
band, she  became  a  resident  of  Sauk  Rapids  as  early  as  1851  and 
continued  to  reside  there  to  the  end  of  her  life.  Under  the  "nom  de 
plume"  of  "Minnie  Mary  Lee"  she  assisted  her  husband  in  the  edito- 


44  St.     John's     University 

following  description  :  "Roads  were  fine,  air  pure,  foliage 
fresh  and  fragrant:  St.  Joseph  was  reached  shortly— thence 
the  road  to  St.  John's  winds  up  hill  and  down,  through 
forest  as  tall  and  southern-like,  so  varied  and  charming,  so 
different  from  our  usual  scrub-oak  tracts,  that  one  thinks 
it  wouldn't  matter  should  it  have  no  end.  When,  how- 
ever, the  blue  lake  is  discerned  through  the  trees  and  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Louis  and  the  College  buildings  meet  the 
view,  one  is  but  glad  to  alight  and  look  around.  Exhibi- 
tion Hall,  a  building  by  itself,  is  constructed  in  a  unique 
and  original  style,  which  to  be  understood  needs  to  be 
seen. 

''The  St.  John's  band  has  become  so  famous  for  its  ex- 
cellence that  it  need  not  be  dwelt  upon  in  praise.  Good 
judges  who  before  never  listened  to  it  were  surprised  and 
delighted.  The  violin  performer  maybe  regarded  simply  as 
a  prodigy:  one  of  those  geniuses,  which  now  and  then  arise 
gifted  for  astonishing  and  entertaining  us  every  -  day 
mortals. 

''While  Norma  was  being  played,  a  certain  lady  remarked 
to  her  husband:  'There,  that  is  the  part  I  never  get  right.' 
— 'That!  You  never  play  that\  was  the  answer.  This  sug- 
gested to  mo  that  we  might  all  aver  of  the  music  generally 
— we  never  heard  that  before 

"In  the  grove  ample  dinners  were  served  to  all.  Friends 
held  social  converse ....  Some  wandered  off  to  the  lake, 
looking  out  longingly  at  the  gleam  of  the  white  chapel 
among  the  trees  on  the  distant  island.  Some  penetrated 
without  leave  or  license  into  the  pretty  garden,  where 
flowers  in  abundance  bloomed." 

The  closing  words  of  this  report  recall  the  garden  which 


rial  management  of  the  "New  Era",  a  weekly  paper  published  at 
Sauk  Rapids.  She  was  also  a  frequent  contributor  to  magazines  and 
wrote  a  number  of  books,  chiefly  of  a  controversial  character,  among 
others:  "The  Heart  of  Myrrha  Lake,"  "Hubert's  Wife,"  "The  Brown 
House  of  Duffield,"  "Strayed  from  the  Fold,"  "Story  of  Annette." 
She  was  a  convert  to  Catholicity  and  always  remained  ardently 
attached  to  her  faith.  She  died  at  St.  Raphael's  Hospital,  St.  Cloud, 
March  9,  1903  and  was  buried  at  Sauk  Rapids. 


St.    John's    University  45 

lay  on  the  south  side  of  the  stone-building  and  which  was 
in  charge  of  the  ''old  gardner,"  Anton  Schaefer.  He  raised 
not  only  garden-truck  but  bestowed  some  attention  also  on 
the  cultivation  of  plums,  crabs  and  grapes.  If  there  were 
any  moments  of  sorrow  in  his  life,  it  was  either  when  fruits 
refused  to  grow  or  when  uninvited  guests  helped  them- 
selves under  the  wings  of  night.  For  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury he  presided  over  the  gardens  belonging  to  the  Abbey. 
The  fine  garden  of  1874  with  its  pavilion  and  its  orchard 
disappeared  about  1886.  The  venerable  old  gardner  died 
at  St.  John's  in  1898. 

The  catalogue  of  this  year  was  printed  by  the  >S'/.  Cloud 
Journal.  For  the  first  time  there  is  mention  of  a  Scienti- 
fic Course,  which,  however,  coincided  largely  with  the  Clas- 
sical Course,  did  not  include  Latin  and  Greek  and  substi- 
tuted the  natural  sciences.  Opportimities  were  also  given 
for  the  study  of  telegraphy.  The  number  of  professors  was 
22.  The  total  attendance  of  students  was  128 — 13  regular 
seminarians,  IS  secular  seminarians,  97  students  in  all  other 
courses.  For  the  first  time,  also,  there  is  mention  of  athle- 
tics, such  as  boating  and  base-ball,  which  will  be  treated  in 
detail  elsewhere  in  this  sketch.  Only  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Accounts  was  conferred  this  year  and  the  three  gradua- 
tes were  Jas.  Kelly,  State  senator  from  1890-94,  Peter 
Engel,  the  present  President  of  St.  John's  and  Herman 
Erren,  who  is  at  present  P.  Othmar  O.  S.  B. 

The  programme  for  exhibition  day  was  elaborate  and 
rather  lengthy.  About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
audience  sat  down  to  witness  the  performance  of  the  five- 
act  drama  "St.  Louis  in  Chains,"  which  consumed  almost 
three  hours  in  acting.  After  an  hour's  intermission  for 
dinner,  followed  five  orations  and  as  many  pieces  of  music 
and  the  celebration  closed  with  the  conferring  of  diplomas 
and  awarding  of  premiums. 

During  this  year  the  buildings  were  increased  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  three  story  wing  extending  north  from  the  main 
building. 


46  St.    John  s    University 

1874-75 

If  the  attendance  at  a  school  may  be  considered  a  gauge 
of  its  excellence,  the  authorities  had  reason  to  congratulate 
themselves  this  year.  Scarcely  had  two  months  passed  before 
125  names  were  on  the  rolls,  and  all  the  departments  had 
a  very  gratifying  number  in  attendance.  A  correspondent 
to  a  paper  writes  in  December  "that  the  season  just  passed 
has  been  in  every  respect  singularly  blessed."  From  his 
remarks  we  also  learn  that  Cecilian  music  was  cultivated 
at  St.  John's  at  that  time.  "The  music  on  Christmas,  as 
well  as  on  the  succeeding  feasts,  was  most  select  and  appro- 
priate and  performed  in  a  manner  which  reflects  great  cre- 
dit on  the  members  of  the  choir.  Witt's  Mass  In  lionorem 
S.  Francisci  Xaverii  was  effectively  rendered  on  Christ- 
mas night  and  Schweitzer's  Mass  Op.  11  was  selected  for 
the  Grand  High  Mass  which  was  celebrated  the  following 
morning." 

In  February  1875  news  arrived  that  Abbot  Rupert  Seiden- 
bush  had  been  selected  by  the  Holy  See  as  Vicar  Aposto- 
lic of  the  newly  erected  vicariate  of  Northern  Minnesota 
which  comprised  "all  that  part  of  Minnesota  lying  north 
of  the  southern  line  of  Travers,  Stevens,  Pope,  Stearns, 
Sherburne,  Isanti,  and  Chisago  Counties  and  that  part  of 
Dakota  east  of  the  Missouri  and  White  Earth  Rivers  and 
north  of  the  southern  line  of  Burleigh,  Logan,  Lamoure, 
Ransom  and  Richland  Counties." 

Although  Abbot  Rupert  had  not  been  in  direct  contact 
with  the  work  of  the  College,  he  was  well  known  to  the 
student  body  and  enjoyed  their  esteem  and  veneration.  He 
had  been  witness  of  their  work  and  spoke  many  a  word  of 
paternal  encouragement  to  them.  Much  as  all  were  proud  of 
his  elevation  they  keenly  regretted  that  he  was  to  leave 
St.  John's.  On  May  4  he  resigned  the  abbatial  office  and 
on  May  30  received  episcopal  consecration  in  the  church  of 
the  Immaculate   Conception,    St.   Cloud,   at  the   hands  of 


St.    John's    University  47 

Bishop  Heiss  of  La  Crosse  who  was  assisted  by  Bishops 
Louis  M.  Fink  O.  S.  B.  and  Joseph  Dwenger. 

On  the  following  day  these  Rt.  Rev.  prelates  and  also 
Bishops  Mrak  and  Hennessy  and  a  number  of  priests  who 
had  assisted  at  the  consecration  ceremonies  visited  St. 
John's,  where  they  were  given  a  reception  and  serenade. 

Abbot  Rupert  Seidenbush  was  succeeded  in  office  on 
June  2  by  P.  Alexius  Edelbrock,  who  had  been  identified 
with  the  work  of  the  institution  since  1867.  The  second 
Abbot  of  St.  Louis  on  the  Lake  had  been  a  student  of  "old 
St.  John's"  during  the  first  two  years  of  its  existence,  had 
fled  from  Minnesota  because  his  father  opposed  his  in- 
tention of  studying  for  the  priesthood,  and  had  entered  St. 
Vincent's  college  in  1859,  where  he  finished  the  classical 
course  and  became  a  member  of  the  Order  in  1864.  Three 
years  later  he  followed  Abbot  Rupert  to  Minnesota  and 
since  that  day  had  given  his  best  efforts  to  the  promotion 
of  the  college.  Its  growth  up  to  this  time  was  in  great 
measure  due  to  him  and  he  was  no  stranger  to  the  task  to 
which  he  was  now  set. 

On  June  24  the  commencement  exercises  took  place. 
They  were  graced  by  the  presence  of  Bishop  Rupert  Sei- 
denbush who  on  the  morning  of  that  day  for  the  first  time 
administered  the  sacrament  of  Confirmation  to  a  class  of 
twenty-five  students.  The  exhibition  exercises,  as  in 
the  preceding  year,  occupied  a  good  part  of  the  day. 
A  Christian  drama:  "Sebastian;  or  the  Roman  Martyr" 
was  performed  in  the  forenoon  and  after  an  intermission 
of  one  hour  for  dinner  followed  a  programme  of  music  and 
orations,  and  the  distribution  of  premiums.  The  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  Frs.  Francis  Mershman 
and  Paul  Rettenmaier;  that  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  on  seven 
and  that  of  Master  of  Accounts  on  fifteen  candidates. 

The  catalogue,  printed  by  the  Pioneer  Press  Co.  of  St. 
Paul,  contained  a  lithograph  of  the  buildings  as  they  w^ere 
to  appear  in  their  finished  state.  The  group  standing  in 
1875  was  to  be  symmetrically  completed  by  the  addition,  at 


48  St.    John's    University 

the  northern  extremity,  of  a  building  similar  to  the  stone- 
house  at  the  southern  end.  Fortunately  that  plan  was  never 
carried  into  execution,  Still  the  lithograph  is  valuable  and 
does  honor  to  the  crayon  artist.  No  photographic  view  of 
the  buildings  seems  to  have  been  taken  before  1881  and  no 
reproduction  of  a  photographic  view  appeared  in  the  cata- 
logues before  1889. 

On  the  list  of  professors  are  seventeen  names,  with  a 
single  exception  members  of  the  Order.  The  institution 
was  outgrowing  the  primitive  age  when  it  was  constrained 
to  seek  help  from  the  outside.  The  total  enrollment  of 
students  was  168 — 14  secular  seminarians,  16  regulars,  138 
in  all  other  courses.  Of  the  theological  students,  five  were 
ordained  during  the  year. 

From  August  5-10  Bishop  Seidenbush  was  at  St.  John's 
and  during  that  time,  for  the  first  time  in  its  history,  the 
higher  Orders  were  conferred  there.  Candidates  for  Orders 
had  hitherto  been  sent  to  St.  Paul  and  all,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Fathers  Cornelius  and  Bruno  of  whom  mention  was 
mad©  in  the  opening  chapter  of  this  history,  were  ordained 
by  Bishop  Grace.  It  may  be  added  that  the  Abbots  of  the 
American  congregation  of  Benedictines  are  empowered  to 
confer  the  Minor  Orders  on  their  own  subjects.  As  Abbot 
Alexius'  elevation  to  the  abbatial  office  had  not  yet  been 
approved  by  the  Holy  See  (it  was  approved  August  15.) 
Bishop  Seidenbush  conferred  the  Minor  Orders.  On  Au- 
gust 5,  Frs.  Gregory  Steil,  William  Eversmann,  Willibrord 
Mahowald  and  Messrs.  William  Brockmeyer — who  subse- 
quently became  a  member  of  the  Order  as  P.  Augustine — 
and  John  Mayer  received  Minor  Orders.  On  August  6. 
the  order  of  sub-deaconship  was  conferred  on  P.  Paul 
Rettenmaier,  Aloysius  Hermanutz,  Ignatus  Wesseling, 
BonaventureSchloeter,E.  P.  Schneider  and  P.  J.  Lynch. 
On  August  8.  the  same  candidates,  together  with  P. 
Francis  Mershman,  were  ordained  deacons,  and  on  Aug.  10. 
P.  Ignatius  Wesseling,  O.  S.  B.,  Bonaventure  Schloeter,  O. 
S.  B.,  and  Revs.  E.  P.  Schneider   and   Patrick   J.   Lynch 


RT.   REV.  RUPERT    SEIDENBUSH,   O.  S.   B. 


LIBHAHY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.     John's    University  49 

were  ordained  priests.  "The  event  was  a  happy  one  to  all 
concerned.  On  that  occasion  the  esteemed  prelate  exer- 
cised, for  the  first  time,  the  high  prerogative  of  his  distin- 
guished office,  sending  Levites  to  serve  at  the  altar  and  la- 
borers  to  work  in  the  Master's  Vineyard:  the  professors 
witnessed  with  pride  and  pleasure,  the  honors  conferred 
upon  the  objects  of  their  long  and  anxious  solicitude  and 
regarded  the  event  as  the  earthly  reward  of  their  labors  and 
zealous  care." 

On  Wednesday,  August  11,  Father  Lynch  celebrated  his 
first  Mass  in  the  College  chapel. 


CHAPTER    III. 

The  Second  Abbot  and  President  1875  —  1889. 
1875  -  '76 

Abbot  Alexius  Edelbrock  retained  the«active  presidency 
of  the  College  during  his  entire  administration  which 
lasted  till  the  end  of  the  year  1889.  The  character  of  his 
new  work  did  not  permit  him  to  continue  on  the  teaching 
staff.  But  he  kept  a  watchful  eye  upon  the  institution 
and  addressed  the  students  a  number  of  times,  especially 
when  the  quarterly  or  semiannual  bulletins  were  publicly 
read. 

The  fourth  building  was  now  finished  and  became  the 
quarters  of  the  religious  community.  A  great  part  of  the 
old  stone  house  was  taken  up  by  seminarians'  rooms,  a 
music  room  and  an  infirmary;  on  the  first  floor  of  the 
second  building  were  four  small  class  rooms  and  a  lavatory ; 
on  the  second  floor  were  two  study  halls ;  in  the  attic  was 
a  dormitory.  In  the  basement  of  the  middle  building  were 
two  refectories  and  the  kitchen  which  supplied  both;  (pn 
the  first  floor  were  a  guest-room,  two  music  rooms,  two 
large  class-rooms  —  one  of  which  contained  the  libraries  of 
the  Sodality  and  of  the  two  literary  societies;  on  the  second 
floor  were  the  rooms  of  the  principal  officials  and  the 
stationery  room;  the  third  floor  was  a  dormitory. 

Large  and  imposing  as  the  buildings  were,  they  still 
were  lacking  in  many  accommodations.  No  one  seemed  to 
miss  the  electric  light  and  elevators,  but  of  a  cold  winter's 

50 


St.    John's    University  51 

day  the  insufficiency  of  an  iron  box-stove  became  apjparent. 
Moreover,  there  were  no  waterworks;  drinking  water  was 
drawn  from  a  fine  well  situated  about  fifty  feet  west  of  the 
second  building,  and  water  for  domestic  uses  was  brought 
in  barrels  from  the  lake.  The  present  generation  which 
finds  every  desirable  convenience  indoors  cannot  realize 
some  of  the  little  hardships  incident  to  student  life  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  ago.     All  this  was  soon  to  be  changed. 

In  the  main,  the  order  of  daily  exercises  was  the  same  as 
at  present.  The  hour  of  rising  was  5  oclock;  at  5:30 
morning  prayers  and  Mass,  followed  by  breakfast;  recrea- 
tion till  7;  studies  or  classes  —  one  hour  each  —  till  11; 
dinner;  a  short  visit  to  the  chapel;  recreation  till  1;  classes 
till  3;  lunch  —  a  slice  of  dry  bread;  4-6  classes;  supper; 
recreation  till  7:30:  studies  till  8:30;  bed-time.  On  Sun- 
days the  students  rose  at  5:30,  attended  High  Mass  and 
heard  a  sermon  at  6;  studies  from  10-12;  after  dinner 
recreation  till  2:30;  afternoon  services;  5-6  religious 
instruction  (also  on  Thursdays).  Thursday  and  Saturday 
afternoons  were  devoted  to  recreation,  which  was  inter- 
rupted by  studies  from  2:30  -3  and  from  5-6. 

On  entering,  the  pupil  was  examined  by  either  the  Presi- 
dent or  the  Vice  President  and,  according  to  his  age  or 
attainments,  was  placed  in  either  the  Senior  or  the  Junior 
study-hall.  Each  of  these  halls  was  under  supervision  of 
a  disciplinarian  and  an  assistant.  For  some  time  students 
of  the  advanced  courses  were  employed  as  assistant  dis- 
ciplinarians. 

The  formal  opening  of  the  schoolyear  '76  took  place  on 
September  10  and  a  correspondent  notes  that  the  church 
choir  did  itself  honor  by  its  execution  of  one  of  Schweitzer's 
Masses  for  four  male  voices. 

Abbot  Alexius  was  solemnly  blessed  and  installed  as 
Abbot  on  October  24  in  St.  Cloud,  because  there  was  no 
locality  at  St.  John's  large  enough  for  such  a  function. 
Several  former  students  from  St.  Paul  on  this  occasion  pre- 
sented him  with  a  gold  chain  for  his  pectoral  cross. 


52  St.    John's    University 

On  February  8,  1876  came  the  saddening  news  that  P. 
Wolfgang,  the  former  President  of  the  College,  had  suddenly 
died  at  Meier's  Grove.  He  was  born  at  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
March  15,  1842,  made  the  simple  vows  of  the  Order  at  St. 
Vincent's,  where  he  had  also  pursued  the  classical  course, 
in  1860.  A  few  years  later  he  had  left  for  Minnesota,  and 
was  follow^ed  at  later  periods  by  his  two  brothers,  P.  Ulric 
and  P.  Bede.  Since  1875  he  had  been  employed  in  the 
missions  in  the  western  part  of  Stearns  County.  His 
remains  were  brought  to  the  abbey  for  burial.  On  Febru- 
ary 10,  after  the  community  had  recited  the  Office  of  the 
Dead,  a  solemn  Requiem  was  sung  at  which  P.  Ulric, 
brother  of  the  deceased,  officiated  and  a  funeral  sermon 
was  delivered  by  the  Kt.  Rev.  Abbot.  Bishop  Seidenbusch, 
officiated  at  the  final  ceremonies  in  the  presence  of  the 
entire  community,  visiting  clergy,  and  several  hundreds  of 
former  parishioners  of  P.  Wolfgang.  His  memory  is 
revered  to  this  day  by  all  who  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  his 
acquaintance. 

The  annual  exhibition  took  place  on  June  27;  the  wea- 
ther was  pleasant  and  the  audience  large.  At  10  oclock  in 
the  morning  the  academic  exercises  commenced  with  a 
production  of  the  historical  drama  "Major  Andre",  written 
by  the  Rev.  Leo  Haid,  O.  S.  B.  of  St.  Vincent's  College  — 
now  Vicar  Apostolic  of  North  Carolina  —  one  of  the  most 
engaging  pieces  ever  rendered  on  the  college  stage.  After 
dinner  followed  the  customary  orations  and  the  distribu- 
tion of  premiums  and  award  of  diplomas.  The  valedicto- 
rian on  this  occasion  was  James  Keane  —  the  present 
Bishop  of  Cheyenne. 

At  the  grand  Centennial  celebration  held  at  the  fair 
grounds  near  St.  Cloud,  on  July  4,  the  play  above  men- 
tioned was  reproduced  with  the  full  cast  of  characters  and 
enthusiastically  received. 

There  was  a  slight  decrease  in  the  number  of  professors 
during  this  and  the  preceding  year.  Only  fifteen  names 
appear  in  the  list  of  the  faculty,   still   the   course  of  study 


St.    John's    Uxiveesity  53 

was  in  no  way  curtailed.  Degrees  conferred:  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  on  Fr.  Peter  Engel,  O.  S.  B.,  and  that 
of  Master  of  Accounts  on  seven  graduates  of  the  Commer- 
cial course.  On  the  list  of  students  were  130  names — 17 
secular  seminarians,  14  clerics,  and  99  students  in  all  other 
departments.  During  the  year,  three  of  the  clerics.  Revs. 
Francis  Mershman,  Paul  Rettenmaier  and  Aloysius  Her- 
manutz  were  ordained  priests. 

1876-77 

Bright  as  the  signs  for  a  prosperous  future  seemed  to  be 
for  some  time,  the  "hard  times"  which  ensued  upon  the 
grasshopper  visit  of  the  Centennial  year  told  upon  the  at- 
tendance at  college,  but  not  to  any  alarming  extent.  In 
February  '77  a  correspondent  of  the  N.  W.  Chronicle  says: 
"In  spite  of  the  hard  times  the  collegiate  attendance  is 
very  good;  the  names  of  107  students  are  reported  in  the 
curriculum." 

In  the  fall  of  1876  the  march  of  improvements  was  in- 
augurated by  the  installment  of  the  first  system  of  water 
works;  the  pump  was  set  up  in  a  small  brick  building 
which  is  now  a  part  of  the  laundry,  and  from  here  the 
water  was  forced  up-hill  into  a  reservoir  a  few  yards  north 
of  the  present  water  tower.  From  this  point,  which  lies 
higher  than  the  third  floor  of  the  college,  the  water  was 
led  down  into  the  buildings.  The  water  works  were  not 
appreciated  as  a  convenient  institution  only;  within  a  few 
months  their  necessity  became  convincingly  evident.  It 
was  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  March  22,  that  the  stu- 
dents were  roused  from  sleep  by  the  noise  of  hurrying  feet 
and  cries  of  "fire".  One  of  the  rooms  occupied  by  the 
seminarians  in  the  old  stone  building  was  filled  with 
smoke.  A  wild  panic  followed,  excited  students  began 
pitching  books  and  furniture  out  of  the  windows  into  the 
snow  and  a  few  dragged  their  trunks  down  stairs.  The 
faculty  were  busy  fighting  the  peril  that  threatened  to  rob 


54  St.    John's    University 

them  of  a  home.  ''The  fire  had  progressed  considerably 
before  it  was  noticed,  but  Father  Ulric  (Northman)  who 
was  one  of  the  first  to  discover  it,  quickly  got  a  Babcock 
extinguisher  to  playing  on  the  flames  and  with  the  aid  of 
a  few  of  the  priests  and  brothers,  who  turned  on  water 
from  the  new  works,  soon  extinguished  the  fire.  The  loss 
will  amount  to  about  $200;  no  insurance.  The  origin  of 
the  fire  is  unknown."  So  reads  a  contemporary  newspaper 
item.  Father  Ulric  while  plying  the  extinguisher  had  the 
misfortune  to  step  into  a  hole  in  the  floor  and  sustained  a 
painful  injury.  The  water  supply  proved  a  most  welcome 
resource  that  critical  night  and  demonstrated  its  utility 
beyond  the  hint  of  a  doubt.  After  the  fire  the  seminarians 
were  removed  from  the  stone  building  and  quartered  in  a 
general  study  room  on  the  second  floor  of  the  main  build- 
ing, where  they  remained  until  1886. 

In  spring  Abbot  Alexius  departed  for  Europe,  where  he 
spent  several  months  visiting  Germany,  France  and  Italy. 
In  June  he  was  in  Rome,  was  admitted  to  audience  with 
Pius  IX  and  h?d  the  pleasure  of  announcing  to  his  breth- 
ren that  the  Holy  Father  sent  his  blessing  both  to  them 
and  the  students  in  their  charge.  This  news  was  received 
with  cheers  on  the  eve  of  exhibition  day. 

The  exercises  on  commencement  day  were  a  departure 
from  the  traditional  fashion  of  celebrating  that  occasion. 
"At  1:30  p.  m.  June  27,"  says  a  report  in  Der  Wanderer, 
"the  students,  preceded  by  the  College  Band,  marched  in 
procession  to  the  beautifully  decorated  exhibition  hall. 
They  were  followed  by  a  great  number  of  visiting  friends, 
among  others  Professors  Kiehle  and  Gray,  of  the  Normal 
School  St.  Cloud,  Prof.  Burdick,  of  the  Union  school,  Sen- 
ator Macdonald,  Hon.  L.  W.  Collins,  ma5^or  of  St.  Cloud, 
also  Judges  McKelvy  and  Brick,  etc."  The  principal  fea- 
ture of  the  exercises  was  a  debate  of  the  proposition,  "That 
savage  nations  ]oossess  a  right  to  the  soil."  It  was  con- 
ducted under  the  auspices  of  the  St.  Thomas  Literary  As- 
sociation.    P.  Francis   Mershman,   the   President  of    the 


St.    John's    University  55 

Association  presided,  and  Revs.  Meinulph  and  Anthony, 
with  Senator  Macdonald  and  Profs.  Kiehle  and  Gray  were 
the  judges.  After  a  brisk  dialectical  struggle  of  about  two 
hours,  in  which  the  disputants,  Peter  A.  Schreiner,  An- 
thony Mayer,  J.  F.  Maloney  and  T.  F.  Cunningham  re- 
vealed themselves  not  merely  as  orators  but  also  as  think- 
ers, the  judges  cast  their  votes  in  favor  of  the  negative 
side.  So  much  time  was  taken  up  by  the  debate  that  part 
of  the  programme  could  not  be  executed. 

The  catalogue  contains  the  names  of  nineteen  professors, 
the  junior  of  whom — Mr.  John  Katzner — is  mentioned  as 
professor  of  violin  and  stenography.  This  is  the  first  time 
stenography  is  mentioned  in  the  annual  catalogues;  the 
system  taught  was  that  of  Gabelsberger. 

The  degree  of  Master  of  Accounts  was  conferred  on 
eight  graduates.  Only  117  students  were  enrolled  during 
this  academic  year:  84  classical  and  commercial  students, 
18  secular  seminarians  and  15  clerics  of  the  Order.  Seven 
members  of  the  graduating  class  in  the  seminary  were  or- 
dained at  various  times  during  the  year. 

1877-78 

In  addition  to  the  courses  already  offered  at  the  institu- 
tion, it  was  deemed  expedient  to  organize  a  distinct  Com- 
mercial course,  Many  young  men  in  the  northern  sec- 
tioQ  of  the  state  contemplated  embracing  a  business 
career,  but  there  was  no  business  college  conveniently  at 
hand.  Hence  the  authorities  concluded  to  meet  the  de- 
mand by  adding  this  course  to  the  curriculum 

According  to  the  prospectus  issued  in  December  1877, 
students  of  this  course  were  also  permitted  to  attend  cer- 
tain classes  in  the  literary  and  scientific  departments.  All 
the  studies  which  contribute  to  make  up  a  thorough  ac- 
countant, were  to  be  taught.  The  system  of  instruction 
was  to  be  that  in  use  at  prominent  business  colleges,  and 
J.  C.  Smith's   National   Accountant   was   to   be  the  basic 


56  St.    John  s    University 

text  book.  The  time  required  for  finishing  the  course  was 
to  depend  entirely  upon  the  student's  endowments  aod 
progress;  he  might  finish  it  in  three  months,  if  his  pre- 
paratory studies  were  good.  By  paying  the  tuition  fee  of 
fifty  dollars  a  scholarship  could  be  procured,  which  en- 
titled tiie  holder  to  an  unlimited  attendance  in  the  classes 
of  the  department.  Students  were  to  be  admitted  at 
any  time  of  the  year,  and  no  vacation  given  to  interrupt 
studies. 

The  department  occupied  the  south  half  of  the  first  floor 
in  the  first  brick  building — now  the  tailor's  shop.  The 
students  of  this  course  attended  instructions  in  this  hall 
daily  from  8  a.  m.  till  3  p.  m.  but  spent  the  remaining  hours 
in  the  general  study  rooms.  The  late  P.  Norbert  Hof- 
bauer,  a  skilled  accountant  and  excellent  penman,  was  the 
first  Principal  of  the  department,  which  was  opened  after 
the  Christmas  holidays,  early  in  January  1878. 

Only  two  events,  outside  of  the  customary  celebrations, 
are  noted  for  this  school  year.  On  March  16  the  late  Hon. 
Ignatius  Donnelly  entered  his  son  S.  J.  Donnelly  as  a 
student  and  was  induced  to  address  the  students  and 
faculty.  He  spoke  in  his  usual  eloquent  and  fascinating 
manner  of  the  services  the  monastic  orders  had  rendered 
to  civilization. 

On  June  26,  before  the  commencement  exercises  P. 
Xavier  White,  the  professor  of  belles  lettres,  was  given  a 
surprise  by  the  pupils  of  his  class,who  presented  him  with 
a  set  of  breviaries. 

The  commencement  exercises  were  simple  in  comparison 
to  those  of  former  years.  Even  the  debate  was  omitted 
and  only  speeches  and  music  filled  the  programme.  Of 
the  musical  selections  none  was  applauded  more  than  the 
productions  of  the  Haydn  String  Quartette.  An  original 
English  poem  entitled  "After  the  Battle",  was  read  by  its 
author,  Mr.  Richard  P.  Heffron,  subsequently  rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Seminary.     Bishop  Seidenbush  presided  at  the  dis- 


St.    John's    University  57 

tribution  of  premiums,  and  a  great  number  of  friends  of 
the  institution  witnessed  the  exercises. 

The  catalogue  contains  besides  the  usual  information,  a 
statement  concerning  the  Commercial  course.  Some  of 
the  specifications  of  the  prospectus  above  mentioned  were 
modified.  Sixteen  professors  composed  the  staff  of  the 
entire  institution.  In  this  catalogue  also  occurs  the  first 
mention  of  a  Prefect  of  Studies.  The  first  to  hold  this 
position  was  P.  Francis  Mershman.  While  the  Vice- 
President  retained  the  chief  supervision  of  college  work  in 
disciplinary  matters,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  Prefect  of 
Studies  to  examine  applicants  for  entrance,  to  assign  them 
to  classes  and  to  superintend  the  conduct  of  classes. 

The  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  v/as  conferred  on  Messrs. 
Jos.  Hellrigl  and  Henry  Plaster,  and  that  of  Master  of 
Accounts  on  23  graduates  of  the  new  commercial  depart- 
ment, the  first  graduate  being  John  Hoeschen,  of  Oak 
Station  (Freeport),  Minn. 

The  total  attendance  was  125:  18  secular  seminarians,  12 
clerics,  95  students  in  all  other  courses.  Twelve  members 
of  the  sem.inary  class  were  ordained  during  the  year. 

1878-79 

Even  the  most  modest  expectations  were  defeated  by  the 
poor  success  of  this  school  year.  According  to  the  cata- 
logue, only  94  students  were  enrolled  in  all  departments — 
of  these  18  were  seminarians.  The  hard  times  were  still 
making  themselves  felt.  One  cause  of  the  decline  in  at- 
tendance was  the  establishment  of  an  academy  near  Sauk 
Centre,   which   relied  for  its  patronage  on  Stearns  county. 

The  authorities  at  St.  John's  hoped  that  a  reduction  of 
the  rate  for  tuition  and  board  would  im_prove  the  situation, 
but  neither  that  expedient  nor  assiduous  advertising 
seemed  to  be  of  any  avail.  But  where  is  there  a  sky  with- 
out a  cloud?  Every  institution  reared  by  the  hand  of  man 
has  its   vicissitudes;   the   hour   of   disappointment  is  the 


58  St.    John's    University 

hour  for  gathering  new   strength  and  kindling  new  hope. 

The  staff  of  professars  had  sixteen  members.  One  of 
the  professors,  P.  Aloysius  Hermanutz,  in  November  1878 
volunteered  to  serve  as  a  missionary  among  the  Chippewa 
Indians  at  White  Earth,  and  has  labored  in  that  mission 
ever  since  without  interruption. 

On  June  1  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  conferred  on  Revs. 
Bernard  Locnikar  and  Francis  Mershman  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  and  upon  P.  Peter  Engel  that  of  Doc- 
tor of  Philosophy. 

For  the  final  examinations  in  the  several  departments 
boards,  each  composed  of  three  members  of  the  faculty, 
were  selected;  among  these  the  work  of  examining  all  the 
classes  was  distributed  and  they  finished  their  task  in 
three  days. 

June  24  was  exhibition  day.  According  to  a  report  ex- 
tant, the  weather  again  worried  all  concerned,  but  eventu- 
ally everything  was  lovely  and  the  great  day  passed  into 
history  and  lives  in  memory  like  a  rosy  sunset.  On  the 
programme  were  speeches  and  musical  selections:  R.  P. 
Hcffron  delivered  an  oration  on  "Materialism  and  Modern 
Thought";  there  were,  moreover,  German  and  Latin  ora- 
tions. 

The  degree  of  Master  of  Accounts  was  conferred  on  12 
candidates. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  arrangements  were  com- 
pleted for  the  establishment  of  Collegeville  station  on  the 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  railway  line.  A  pas- 
senger and  freight  station  house  was  built  in  June  1879 
and  Mr.  Henry  Broker,  who  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
large  frame  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  track,  was  the 
first  station  agent.  A  new  wagon  road  was  cut  through 
the  woods  and  thus  good  old  Bro.  "Taddy's"  daily  stage 
trip  was  shortened  five  miles.  Late  in  summer  College- 
ville post  office  was  opened,  with  station  agent  Broker  as 
postmaster. 

For  many  years  the  need  of  an  appropriate,  commodious 


St.    John's    University  59 

church  had  been  felt,  the  humble  frame  chapel  was  no 
longer  worthy  of  the  great  pile  in  the  shadow  of  which  it 
stood.  During  the  summer  of  1879  work  on  the  new 
church  was  begun;  the  masonry  of  the  basement  was  fin- 
ished in  fall  and  on  September  24  the  cornerston^e  was  laid. 

1879-80 

"It's  a  long  lane  that  has  no  turning".  Whatever  disap- 
pointment was  felt  during  the  last  year,  made  way  for 
cheerful  and  renewed  effort  as  the  attendance  of  the  new 
scholastic  term  increased. 

During  the  winter  a  minim  department  was  organized 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Prefect  of  Studies.  The  defec- 
tive elementary  education  of  many  of  the  pupils  who  ap- 
plied for  admission  to  the  collegiate  departments,  rendered 
this  step  necessary.  About  fifteen  students  ranging  be- 
tween 10  and  15  years  of  age  formed  the  first  class. 

Considerable  sickness  prevailed  during  the  latter  part  of 
1879  and  the  beginning  of  1880;  two  of  the  students,  J. 
Barthle  and  J.  L.  Brousseau  died  at  college. 

In  1880  all  the  world  was  celebrating  the  fourteen  hun- 
dreth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  St.  Benedict.  The  4th, 
5th  and  6th  of  April  of  that  year  were  red  letter  days  and 
saw  notable  gatherings  and  events  at  St.  John's.  A  con- 
cise account  is  given  in  the  catalogue  of  1880.  "Distin- 
guished visitors  graced  the  celebration.  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Seidenbusch,  former  superior  of  the  Monastery  and  Col- 
lege, whose  visits  are  always  joyfully  greeted,  celebrated 
Pontifical  Mass,  administered  Confirmation  and  conferred 
Minor  Orders  (on  the  first  day).  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Marty, 
the  zealous  Vicar  Apostolic  of  Dakota,  officiated  on  the 
second  day  of  the  Triduum  and  preached  a  touching  ser- 
mon to  an  appi^eciative  and  delighted  audience.  The 
laity  was  ably  represented  by  Hon.  H.  C.  Waite,  a  distin- 
guished convert  to  Catholicity,  whose  pleasing  and  instruc- 
tive lecture  was   the   prominent  feature  of   an  afternoon 


f)0  St.    John's    University 

seaace".  On  the  last  named  occasion  the  college©  choir 
sang  the  jubilee  song,  the  text  of  which  was  written  by 
P.  Xavier  White  and  the  music  by  P.  Ulric  Northman.  A 
centennial  ode,  also  written  by  P.  Xavier,  was  delivered 
by  one  of  the  students.  It  is  one  of  the  few  poetic  efforts 
traceable  to  that  estimable  and  gifted  professor,  and  was 
assigned  a  place  of  honor  in  the  catalogue.  His  dignified 
diction  and  power  of  description  are  well  illustrated  in 
these  lines: 

'Tis  eastern  brethren  sing  the  feong 

That  time  through  distance  doth  prolong, 

That  echoes  through  this  western  sphere, 

And  mingles  with  our  matins  here. 

It  bears  its  onv/ard  course  amain; 

The  east  will  hear  the  glad  refrain, 

And  then  attune  their  evening  prayer 

To  our  exultant  matin  air; 

For  ere  Cassino  chant  her  evening  lays 

Back  shall  resound  our  songs  of  praise, 

Till  brethren  with  united  voice 

In  one  grand  harmony  rejoice. 
After  the  celebration,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  set  out  for 
Europe  a  second  time,  to  attend  the  festivities  at  the  tomb 
of  St.  Benedict  at  Monte  Cassino,  and  did  not  return  be- 
fore August.  He  was  accompanied  by  P.  Peter  Engel, 
then  professor  of  Philosophy  and  Chemistry.  This  sug- 
gests the  fact  that  about  this  time  Father  Peter  began  ex- 
perim-enting  in  photography.  The  primitive  studio  he 
fitted  up,  developed  into  agallery  of  respectable  dimensions 
in  a  short  time  and  became  a  permanent  institution.  At 
first  the  studio  occupied  a  corner  in  the  chemical  labora- 
tory and  pictures  were  taken  under  Minnesota  skylight, 
with  scenery  such  as  only  the  Author  of  the  universe  can 
paint,  as  background.  For  some  time  the  gallery  found 
shelter  in  a  wing  of  the  old  frame  house,  was  next  trans- 
ferred to  the  fourth  floor  of  the  new  college  buildings  and 
finally  was  given  fine  quarters  in  the  third  floor  of  the 
library  building. 

The  schoolyear   closed   on   June   24th  with  very  simple 


St.    John's    Univeesity  61 

exercises;  there  was  music,  a  salutator}^,  a  valedictory, 
several  orations  and  the  distribution  of  premiums.  For 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  college  a  gold  medal 
was  awarded;  it  was  the  gift  of  Rev.  C.  V.  Gamache  and 
George  Doerenkaempsr  was  the  fortunate  captor. 

In  all,  145  students  were  enrolled  this  year:  14  secular 
and  15  regular  seminarians  and  116  students  in  all  the 
other  departments. 

The  old  lithograph  picture  of  the  buildings  was  replaced 
by  a  double-page  engraving  from  a  sketch  by  Fr.  Urban 
Fisher,  then  professor  of  drawing.  It  was  a  birdseye  view 
from  the  northeast  and  comprised  a  goodly  piece  of  coun- 
try. In  the  foreground  is  the  new  church,  in  the  distance 
to  the  right  are  the  now  shops  and  other  buildings,  and 
near  the  lake  shore,  the  laundry,  which  was  built  in  1878. 

1880-81 

Tovfards  the  end  of  xiugust  the  institution  received  a 
visit  from  the  distinguished  author  and  professor.  Dr. 
Herman  Zschokke,  chaplain  to  the  Austrian  imperial  court 
and  subsequently  rector  of  the  University  of  Vienna.  He 
perpetuated  the  memory  of  that  visit  in  a  series  of  sketches 
entitled  "Nach  Nord  Amerika  und  Canada".  How  deeply 
he  was  impressed  with  the  scenery  here,  is  revealed  by  the 
following  paragraph  (translated):  "On  the  other  shore 
of  the  lake  there  stands  surrounded  by  trees  a  small  chapel 
— Stella  Maris — built  by  the  students  in  honor  of  the 
Mother  of  God,  It  was  a  sunset  picture  so  exquisite,  that 
one  could  not  imagine  anything  more  perfect.  The  sun, 
which  had  just  disappeared  below  the  horizon,  poured  a 
flood  of  orange-hued  light  over  the  western  sky;  the  i)lacid 
lake  caught  and  mirrored  the  glorious  light  which  trans- 
figured the  thick  foliage  of  the  forest;  from  its  height 
the  abbey  looked  calmly  upon  the  scene;  and  when  finally 
the  bell  sounded  the  Ave  Maria  and  its  voice  was  wafted 
over  the  quiet,  peaceful  landscape,   finding   many  an  echo 


62  St.    John's    University 

in  the  woods,  I  found  myself  transported  in  spirit  back 
into  the  early  centuries,  when  the  sods  of  St.  Benedict 
penetrated  with  holy  zeal  into  the  wilderness,  cut  down 
forests,  founded  monasteries,  enkindled  everywhere  the 
light  of  faith  and  gave  Europe  civilization",     (p.  501.) 

Up  to  this  time  the  public  prints  had  little  to  say  of  the 
college:  several  times  a  year  they  were  furnished  with  ela- 
borate reports  of  festivities,  but  of  the  doings  in  student 
circles  in  the  class  room  and  on  the  campus,  scant  reports 
found  their  way  into  publicity.  P.  Xavier  was  the  first  to 
venture  to  supply  the  press,  particularly  that  in  the  imme- 
diate neighborhood,  with  college  news.  His  reports  enable 
the  chronicler  to  present  in  closer  detail  the  events  of  the 
time. 

The  winter  of  1880-81  was  severe;  for  three  days  in  Feb- 
ruary the  college  was  effectually  cut  off  from  the  rest  of 
the  world,  trains  were  snow-bound  for  three  days  and  no 
mail  could  be  delivered. 

A  list  of  pupils  who  merited  first  or  second  class  honors 
at  the  fisrt  term  examinations  was  inserted  in  the  Times 
and  Der  Wanderer.  From  this  time  forward  such  lists 
appeared  regularly  and  served  to  stimulate  the  ambition 
of  the  students.  The  attendance  was  very  gratifying  and 
the  reporter  notes  that  in  January  "a  lot  of  new  furniture, 
desks,  chairs,  bedsteads,  etc.,  were  brought  up  from  the 
depot.  The  institutiim  is  filling  to  its  utmost  capacity 
and  the  voice  is  'still  they  come'."  Shortly  after  he  ob- 
serves: "Among  the  students  we  find  the  following  na- 
tionalities: Russian,  Dutch,  French,  Irish,  German  and 
American.  'Wise  men  from  every  nation'."  The  Com- 
mercial graduates  generally  received  a  word  of  commenda- 
tion and  encouragement  and  the  efforts  of  the  orators  were 
rewarded  by  the  insertion  of  their  papers  in  the  Times. 
Thus  the  late  Rev.  Henry  McGolrick's  discourse  on  "The 
Existence  of  God,"  was  printed  in  full,  occupying  about 
three  columns  of  the  paper;  and  about  the  same  time  ap- 
peared Fr.  Urban's  excellent  essay,  "Physiological  Proofs 


1 


St.    John's    University  63 

of  the  Unity  of  the  Human  Species".  When  the  class  in 
civil  engineering  had  spent  a  day  in  the  field  ascertaining 
the  height  of  a  certain  hill  and  grading  a  road  through  it, 
they  found  this  humorous  write-up  about  themselves: 
"They  worked  more  lively  than  older  hands  and  with  won- 
drous exactitude.  After  three  hours  out-door  work  they 
returned  very  civil  engineers,  and  with  remarkable  dexter- 
ity found  the  level  of  a  heap  of  edibles  in  a  very  practical 
way".  On  another  occasion  "Messrs.  Lawler  and  Doeren- 
kaemper  gave  an  exemplification  of  the  old  proverb — 
errare  humanum  est.  They  were  working  a  lunar  and  could 
not  agree  in  the  result.  When  the  fray  was  at  its  hottest, 
Master  Flock  explained:  'Gentlemen,  neither  of  you  is  far 
astray.  One  has  the  true  altitude  of  the  orb;  the  other, 
calculating  parallax,  has  taken  the  shadow  of  the  old  man's 
beard  as  he  sat  on  the  edge  of  the  disc  making  his  toilet 
and  using  the  Atlantic  for  a  mirror'." 

In  the  meantime  the  new  church  building  was  progress- 
ing rapidly,  despite  numerous  delays.  During  June  the 
brick  work  of  the  towers  was  completed. 

May  22nd  was  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  advent  of  the 
Benedictines  in  Minnesota,  but  the  celebration  of  the 
event  was  postponed  to  some  more  favorable  time,  chiefly 
because  the  church  was  not  finished. 

The  closing  exercises  on  June  22nd  were  witnessed  by  a 
remarkably  large  gathering  of  clergymen,  both  Benedic- 
tines and  secular.  The  chief  feature  was  a  debate  of  the 
question,  "Can  the  United  States  be  properly  called  a 
Catholic  country?"  A  reporter  of  the  exercises  to  the 
Pioneer  Press  observes:  "This  was  one  of  St.  John's  best 
commencements;  not  because  of  tinselled  brilliancy — of 
that  there  was  none — but  becuuse  of  solid  work  well  done 
and  plainly  evidenced.  The  number  of  graduates  was 
large  and  they  well  deserved  the  distinctions  received. 
All  the  speeches  were  original — written  by  the  pupils — 
and  though  none  were  of   the  brilliant  style  of  eloquence, 


64  St.     John's    University 

all  were  far  above  the  medium — replete  with  solid  thought, 
conveyed  in  clear,  forcible  language." 

Tho  annual  catalogue  states  that  the  classical  course  was 
extended  to  six  years,  instead  of  five;  the  first  class  in 
philosophy  was  detached  from  the  ecclesiastical  course  and 
added  to  the  classical  course. 

In  the  ecclesiastical  course  there  were  25  students,  of 
these  seven  were  ordained  in  course  of  the  year.  All  the 
other  departments  had  an  attendance  of  183, — total  158. 
The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy  was  conferred  this 
year  for  the  first  time;  there  were  6  candidates;  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  2  graduates  and  that 
of  Master  of  Accounts  on  25.  Tw^o  gold  medals  were 
awarded:  one,  for  excellence  in  Christian  Doctrine,  the 
gift  of  Bishop  Seidenbush,  the  other  for  general  profi- 
ciency, the  gift  of  R3V.  O.V.  Grdmache.  The.^e  prizes  were 
taken  by  Geo.  Doerenkaemper  and  Henry  Flock. 

1881-82 

When  the  doors  Vv^ere  thrown  open  for  admission  of  the 
silver  jubilee  class  in  September,  only  60  students  report- 
ed and  work  was  jjromptly  begun.  On  the  staff  of  profes- 
sors V7ere  P.  Ulric  Northman,  the  Vice-President;  Fathers 
Norbert  Hofbauer,  Peter  Engel,  Francis  Mershman,  An- 
thony Kapser,  Simplicius  Wimmer.  Vincent  Schiffrer, 
Othmar  Erren,  Xavier  White,  John  Katzner  and  the 
clerics  Frs.  Alfred  Mayer,  Jerome  Heider,  Thomas  Bor- 
gerding,  Conrad  Glatzmaier,  Urban  Fisher,  Placidus  Win- 
gerter,  Wolfgang  Steinkogler,  Alexius  Hoffmann,  Chrysos- 
tom  Schreiner,  Lawrence  Steinkogler,  James  Capeilen  and 
Timothy  Vaeth. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  schoolyear,  September  9,  the 
Rev.  Director  of  the  Sodality,  P.  Francis,  celebrated  a  Re- 
quiem for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  Rev.  J.  Breunig,  '79, 
who  died  of  consumption  at  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  on  Septem- 
ber 1. 


St.    John's    University  65 

Less  than  two  weeks  after  the  opening  of  the  school 
year,  85  students  were  enrolled  and  fears  for  an  un- 
successful year  were  quickly  dispelled.  P.  Leo  Winter 
organized  a  singing  society.  "The  boys  take  to  it  like 
kittens  to  milk,"  says  the  Times  correspondent.  Unfor- 
tunately, P.  Leo  was  shortly  after  assigned  to  parish 
work  and  interest  in  the  glee  club  flagged. 

The  new  church  was  slowly  approaching  completion; 
early  in  October  work  was  begun  on  the  steeples  and  the 
roof  was  covered  with  tin.  Since  the  middle  of  July  two 
of  the  basement  chapels  were  in  use,  but  owing  to  the 
distance  of  the  chapels  from  the  college  building  then  in 
use,  the  students  continued  attending  the  frame  chapel. 

A  class  in  practical  short-hand  reporting  was  organized 
by  Fr.  Urban,  who  himself  was  an  expert  reporter,  and 
the  first  impulse  was  given  to  the  introduction  of  phon- 
ography into  the  commercial  class.  Also  a  class  in 
practical  astronomy  was  formed,  despite  the  lack  of  ap- 
propriate instruments.  Nor  was  the  campus  desolate; 
there  is  record  of  a  game  of  base  ball  between  the  classics 
and  the  theologians  which  "went  hard  against  the  classics", 
score  9 — 0.  Here  is  the  comment  of  a  reporter:  ""Otium 
cum  dignitate  is  the  time  to  which  the  theologians  play 
base  ball,  but  9 — 0  is  that  to  which  the  poor  classics  'hold 
it  down.'  And  worse  than  all,  the  theologians  took  the 
new  ball.  Classics,  you  are  good  players  in  some  barn 
yard  with  a  yarn  ball."  Early  in  the  winter  a  movement 
in  favor  of  military  drill  was  inaugurated.  A  company 
of  about  40  was  formed  and  under  command  of  Capt.  Jos. 
Langan  began  operations.  They  did  not  succeed  in 
securing  arms  and  uniforms  and  in  consequence  the 
company  was  disbanded  in  the  winter. 

An  epidemic  of  small  pox  prevailed  in  the  neighborhood 
during  the  winter.  Sorrow  and  death  reigned  under 
many  a  roof.  The  priests  in  the  stricken  places  made 
heroic  efforts  to  bar  the  progress  of  the   disease  and   their 


66  St.    John's    University 

efforts  were  recognized  by  the  State  Board  of  Health. 
Only  one  priest  fell  a  victim  to  the  duties  of  his  calling, 
P.  Meinrad  Leuthard,  O.  S.  B.,  pastor  at  Melrose.  He 
contracted  the  disease  while  attending  to  a  member  of  his 
congregation  and  died  November  28,  1881.  He  had  been 
a  studejit  and  professor  at  St.  John's  and  was  universally 
esteemed  for  his  great  piety  and  seriousness.  In  the 
midst  of  this  visitation,  the  college  remained  unscathed. 
Dr.  Hewit,  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  made 
an  examination  of  a  great  number  of  institutions  includ- 
ing St.  John's,  in  November.  He  found  no  trace  of  the 
disease  here  and  com])limented  the  students  upon  their 
fine  condition,  '"The  only  disease  the  doctor  found," 
says  a  reporter  to  the  Chronicle,  "was  consumption  of 
edibles  which  prevails  to  such  an  extent  as  to  keep  the 
cook  and  kitchen  force  working  like  hatters.  The  Doctor 
left  a  certificate  with  the  Abbot  to  the  effect  that  he 
found  no  other  disease  in  the  house."  Fifteen  years  later 
the  situation  was  more  serious. 

Skating  was  exceptionally  fine  this  winter:  several 
hundred  acres  of  skating  rink  is  a  privilege  not  accorded 
to  the  students  of  every  year  and  so  the  best  was  made  of 
the  present  opportunity.  Those  who  would  not  trust 
themselves  to  the  smooth  surface  and  shining  steel,  re- 
mained on  solid  earth  and  kicked  foot-ball,  then  a  very 
simple  game.  There  was  no  association,  no  gridiron,  no 
rooting.  When  winter  set  in,  it  was  customary  to  take  up 
a  collection  for  a  foot-ball.  Sides  were  chosen  for  every 
game;  one  man  was  placed  to  watch  the  "barrier"  or  goal, 
while  the  rest  strove  to  kick  the  ball  through  the  goal  of 
the  opposing  side.  Victory  came  to  the  best  kickers  and 
runners. 

After  the  Christmas  holidays,  a  number  of  new  students 
were  registered.  Room  was  growing  scarce,  and  furniture 
running  short,  the  carpenters  were  ordered  to  make  new 
desks  for  the  study  halls  and  class  rooms.      ''During  Holy 


St.    John's    University  67 

Week  the  chapel  was  full  at  every  service.  Few  of  the 
pupils  being  absent  on  vacation  it  was  made  a  point  to 
carry  out  the  ceremonies  of  the  season  strictly  in  com- 
pliance with  the  rubrics."  Easter  was  the  end  of  the 
second  term  for  quarterly  bulletins  for  some  time. 

"To  thank  Almighty  God  for  his  merciful  preservation 
from  contagion  during  the  late  epidemic,  a  solemn  High 
Mass  was  celebrated  on  Saturday  (April  22)  in  the 
monastery  church.  Every  member  of  the  house  felt  him- 
self obliged  to  this  grateful  act  for  while  all  around,  and 
even  near  by,  many  were  stricken  with  the  plague,  houses 
were  quarantined  and  much  suffering  and  inconvenience 
followed,  not  a  single  case  of  sickness  appeared  among 
the  two  hundred  inmates  of  St.  John's.  So  marked  a 
protection  could  not  fail  to  make  a  strong  and  lasting  im- 
pression." 

Once  in  a  long  while  a  news  correspondent  would 
chronicle  the  vagaries  of  the  weather,  which  then  as  now 
fascinated  and  eluded  a  large  school  of  prophets.  Says 
one:  "Just  so,  but  who'd  have  thought  of  it?  On  the 
21st  of  May,  1882  snow  and  hail!  Cattle  are  under  the 
sheds,  birds  sit  on  the  leeward  branches  to  avoid  being 
blown  away."  In  general  the  summer  was  pleasant,  as 
is  shown  by  the  numerous  visitors  who  came  to  spend  an 
afternoon  fishing  at  the  college  lake." 

The  commencement  services  were  held  June  27 ;  besides 
the  usual  formal  salutatory  and  valedictory  addresses  and 
music  there  were  two  orations  by  graduates,  an  impromptu 
address  by  Col.  S.  J.  Ahern  of  St.  Paul  and  an  address 
to  the  graduates  by  Hon.  H.  C.  Waite.  The  latter  was  a 
very  elaborate  discourse  worked  out  in  scholarly  style  and 
fraught  with  many  practical  counsels,  deductions  from  the 
experiences  of  a  long  and  worthy  life.  Taking  leave  of 
his  audience  he  said:  "Forward,  never  backward;  no 
delay  stations  on  the  road:  no  side  issues  to  swerve  you 
from  the  one  sole  purpose  you  have  in  view.     OnVard  and 


68  St.    John's    University 

ever  onward  until  the  goal  is  reached.  Such  is  the  course 
of  the  trul}^  successful  man.  In  so  going  you  may  not 
always  win  the  applause  of  your  contemporaries,  but  the 
final  judgment  will  be  in  your  favor.  In  this  brave  task 
you  have  set  before  you  of  living  and  being,  you  have 
already  acquired  many  accomplishments.  Still  the 
greater  task  is  before  you.  I  would  suggest  no  dis- 
couragements; these  will  come  soon  enough.  I  prefer 
to  address  myself  to  the  splendor  of  your  oppor- 
tunities. For  myself  I  can  say,  I  do  love  to  live  and  enter 
into  the  constitution  of  the  world's  progress.  I  rejoice  in 
such  occasions  as  these,  where  young  men  emerge  from 
the  requirements  of  school  discipline  and  take  upon  them- 
selves the  manly  duties  of  independent  living.  Let  your 
attendance  here  never  bring  reproach  upon  the  institution 
when  in  afterlife  you  have  become  merged  in  industrial 
or  professional  pursuits.  Look  back  to  her  as  a  foster 
mother  and  extend  to  her  that  consideration  she  has  so 
bountifully  extended  to  you.  Protect  the  reputation  of 
the  institution  you  have  assisted  in  making  and  when  you 
go  hence,  go  forth  bravely,  boldly  and  wisely  to  your  life 
tasks.  As  students,  I  bid  you  good  afternoon,  but  as 
young  men  just  leaving  school  and  entering  upon  the 
active  duties  of  life,  I  say,  good  morning." 

According  to  the  catalogue  the  number  of  professors 
was  22  and  the  total  student  attendance  159 — 22  being 
seminarians  and  137  students  in  all  the  other  courses. 
The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy  was  conferred  on 
2  candidates,  that  of  Master  of  Accounts  on  35,  and  three 
gold  medals  were  awarded. 

On  July  25  nine  graduates  of  the  seminary  were  raised 
to  the  holy  priesthood  by  Bishop  Seidenbush  in  the  base- 
ment chapel  of  the  new  church.  "This  was  the  largest 
number  of  priests  ever  ordained  at  one  time  in  Minnesota 
and  it  brings  the  number  of  priests  ordained  from  this 
house  up  to  98;  of  this  number  41  belong  to  the  Benedic- 


St,     John's     Univeksity  69 

tint:*  Order,  the  remaining  57  are  secalars,  who  in  12 
different  dioceses  are  laboring  in  tlie  vineyard  of  the  Lord 
with  credit  to  themselves  and  to  their  Alma  Mater."  The 
nine  newly  ordained  were  lievs.  Martin  Schmitt,  Alfred 
Mayer,  Conrad  Ulatzmaier,  Urban  Fischer,  ail  Benedict- 
ines, and  Revs,  George  Gaskell,  Christoi^ht^r  Murphy, 
Gregory  Goebel,  Patrick  Boland  aiid  Nicholas  JSchmitz, 
secular  clergymen.  In  the  aftcrnc^on  of  the  same  day, 
about  4  o'clock,  a  severe  storm  piissed  over  the  house, 
causing  great  fear  and  excitement.  Everything  mov  able 
was  carried  belore  the  wind.  A  part  of  the  tin  roofing  of 
the  church  was  carried  off  and  the  rain  which  came  with 
the  storm  poured  through  the  ceiling  and  somewhat 
damaged  the  plastering. 

1882-88 

'^Lonesome  vacation  days  are  gone  and  now  again 
sleeping  echoes  waken  in  glad  response  to  the  merry 
shouts   of     joyous     innocence,   again    the    hum  of    busy 

workers  drawing  lore  from  leaves  t[iat   speak 

A  ramble  through  the  campus  shows  many  old  and  many 
new  faces,  but  many  old  ones,  too,  are  missing.  But 
whence  these  new"  ones?  Here  are  Minnesota's  represen- 
tatives in  miniature  and  members  from  Dakota  side  by 
side  with  those  who  represent"  Illinois.  Wisconsin  and 
Iowa.  Standing  Rock  and  Fargo,  Moorhead  and  Duluth, 
with  many  intervening  posts,  send  in  representatives 
from  the  North.  Then  from  the  iSouth  come  Iowa  City, 
Madison,  St.  Paul,  the  Mill  city  with  the  long  name,  St. 
Cloud  and  Stearns  generally.  Various  as  are  the  places, 
as  various  are  the  faces,  one  thing  is  common  to  all — a 
desire  to  be  learned,  useful  men."  Thus  the  local  re- 
porter sketches  the  opening  days  of  the  fall  term.  Events 
ran  along  "so  quietly  that  one  would  not  find  out,  without 
trying,  that  an  army  of  students  is  posted  in  the  estab- 
lishment.    The  fact  is,  business    is    being   pushed  on   so 


70  St.     John's    University 

lively  that  no  one  has  time   to   be   noisy  or  mischievous." 

October  24th  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  new  church.  A  great  number  of  clergy  and 
other  friends,  of  the  institution  had  assembled  to  witness 
the  ceremonies,  which  began  at  7  a.  m.  Bishop  Seiden- 
bush  was  the  principal  oflSciating  prelate;  he  consecrated 
the  church  and  the  high  altar  and  celebrated  pontifical 
High  Mass.  The  two  side  altars  were  consecrated  at  the 
same  time  by  the  late  Abbot  Boniface  Wimmer  and 
Abbot  Innocent  Wolf.  A  discourse  was  delivered  in 
English  by  Et.  Rev.  John  Ireland,  then  coadjutor  to  the 
bishop  of  St.  Paul  and  one  in  German  by  Rev.  Dr.  Otto 
Zardetti.  On  the  same  occasion  the  silver  jubilee  of  the 
arrival  of  the  first  Benedictines  in  Minnesota  was  cele- 
brated and  the  first  Alumni  Association  organized  of 
which  more  extensive  mention  shall  be  made  in  another 
chapter. 

Towards  the  end  of  November,  25  were  in  the  com- 
mercial class.  During  the  month  the  college  band  played 
at  the  church  fair  in  St.  Cloud  and  executed  a  small 
musical  program  at  the  college  on  St.  Cecilia's  day. 

On  December  16,  before  sunrise,  the  saw  and  grist 
mills  on  the  Watab  were  burnt  to  the  ground  together 
with  a  considerable  quantity  of  grain  and  timber.  Since 
that  time  no  effort  has  been  made  to  rebuild  the  mills, 
but  the  dam  remains  and  the  boisterous  waters  rush  down 
the  rocks  as  they  did  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago. 

Among  the  visitors  at  St.John's  in  the  fall  was  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Joerger,  whose  notes  of  travel  over  the 
nom  de  ;plume  of  Socius  Fidelis  were  in  their  day  read 
with  great  avidity.  In  his  recollections  of  St.  John's 
he  writes:  "/Si  monumentum  requiris,  circumspicef 
(If  you  seek  for  a  monument  look  about  you)  is  said  of 
the  builder  of  St.  Paul's  in  London.  This  monastery 
and  church  also  are  such  a  monumentum  aere  perennius. 
A  part  of  the  buildings  is  occupied  by  St.  John's  College, 


St.     John's     University  71 

of  which  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot  is  the  President,  assisted 
by  P.  Ulric  Northman  as  vice-gerent  and  a  staff  of 
twenty  professors.  I  shall  never  forget  the  genial 
hospitality  of  Fathers  Othmar  Erren,  Xavier  White  and 
John  Katzner.  I  will  make  no  special  mention  of  P. 
Ulric,  for  my  love  for  him  is  as  powerful  as  his  size, 
sex  cuhitorum  et  palmae.^^ 

Of  the  buildings  occupied  by  the  community  in  the 
farm  up  to  1867,  only  a  two  story  loghouse  was  left  on  the 
spot;  this  structure  was  wiped  out  by  fire  on  January  18, 
1888. 

On  the  feast  of  St.  Scholastica,  P.  Placidus  Wingerter 
who  had  been  one  of  the  disciplinarians  for  two  years 
past,celebrated  his  First  Holy  Mass  in  the  new  church.  It 
was  the  first  event  of  this  kind  in  the  new  church.  At  a 
later  hour  in  the  day  the  students  met  in  one  of  the  class 
rooms,  where  they  delivered  congratulatory  addresses  to 
the  new  priest  and  offered  him  a  valuable  present. 

Since  February  of  this  year  the  institution  bears  the 
legal  style  and  title  of  ''St.  John's  University".  A  bill  for 
an  act  amendatory  of  the  original  charter  was  submitted 
to  the  State  legislature  by  Senator  H.  C.  Waite,  passed 
by  both  houses  and  approved  by  the  Governor  February 
17th.  The  document  may  be  found  in  the  Special  Laws 
of  Minnesota,  chap.  85,  p.  223  and  reads: 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Minnesota; 

Section  1.  That  the  act  entitled  an  act  to  incorporate 
the  St.  John's  Seminary,  approved  March  sixth  (6th), 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  a  fifty-seven  (1857),  as  well 
as  the  several  acts  amendatory  thereof,  and  the  title  to  the 
original  act  of  incorporation,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby 
amended  as  follows: 

That  wherever  the  word  ''seminary"  occurs  in  either 
thereof,  the  same  be  stricken  out  and  the  word  "univer- 
sity" be  substituted  in  lieu  thereof. 

Section  2.     That  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts   inconsistent 


72  St.    John's    University 

with  this  act  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed. 

Section  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force 
from  and  after  its  passage. 

On  March  9th,  P.  Peter  Enfrel  was  appointed  Prefect 
of  Studies,  which  office  he  held  until  June  1895. 

June  26  was  Commencement  day.  A  number  of  friends 
of  the  institation,  especially  Alumni  who  had  come  to 
hold  their  first  annual  meeting,  witnessed  the  exercises^ 
which  were  not  of  an  elaborate  character. 

From  the  catalogue  we  learn  that  the  baccalaureate  in 
philosophy  was  conferred  on  4  graduates,  and  the  degree 
of  M.  A.  on  17.  Five  gold  and  one  silver  medal  were 
awarded.  168  students  were  enrolled:  16  seminarians  and 
147  in  all  other  departments. 

During  the  summer  excavations  were  made  for  the 
foundation  of  the  new  college  buildings — one,  160X60, 
was  to  be  an  entension  of  the  main  building,  another, 
110X60  was  to  be  attached  to  the  church ;  both  to  run 
parallel  and  to  be  joined  at  their  western  extremity  by  a 
wing  100X50.  The  corner  stone,  a  huge  boulder,  was 
placed  in  position  August  22nd. 

1883-84 

Class  work  was  resumed  September  5th,  and  the  at- 
tendance was  flattering.  Few  events  worthy  of  notice 
outside  of  the  everyday  occurrences,  are  at  the  disposal 
of  the  chronicler.  A  visitor  in  January  1884  reports: 
"A  stately  structure  presenting  370  ft.  front  and  a  church 
that  rivals  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  in  the  state, 
compose  the  present  University  buildings.  But  even 
this  structure,  large  as  it  is,  does  not  furnish  the  needed 
room,  hence  the  foundations  are  laid  and  already  raised 
one  story  high  for  other  buildings  whose  entire  length  is 
300  ft.  and  width  60  ft.  Since  1870,  when  the  first  annual 
catalogue  was  issued,  1113  names  are  on  the  roll  and  this 
is  for  but  one  half  of  the  years    of   the  institution.      The 


RT.    REV.    ALEXIUS     EDELBROCK,   O.   S.    B. 


mivmm  of  Illinois 


St.    John's    University  73 

'annual'  of  this  year  will  contain  about  200  names.  Of 
the  entire  number  since  1870  there  l.ave  been  108 
ordained  to  the  priesthood  and  237  have  received  di- 
plomas and  degrees  in  the  arts  and  sciences." 

Early  in  1884  a  figure  familiar  to  the  students  of  several 
years  disappeared — that  of  the  "old  general."  His  name 
was  Koronikolski.  His  conversation  showed  that  he 
had  enjoyed  an  excellent  classical  education.  According 
to  his  own  story  he  had  been  an  officer  in  the  army  in 
Poland,  had  taken  part  in  some  insurrection  and  been 
compelled  to  flee.  For  many  years  he  lived  a  solitary 
life  in  the  woods  beyond  the  Watab,  was  extremely  poor 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  occupied  a  small  room  in  the 
frame  building,  where  one  of  the  Brothers  waited  upon 
him. 

When  the  Easter  class  bulletins  were  issued,  it  was 
stated  that  the  attendance  exceeded  that  of  any  previous 
year.  In  the  papers  appeared  a  list  of  all  those  who  had 
merited  an  average  note  of  75%  in  all  their  classes. 

The  scholastic  year  closed  on  June  25.  At  7  a.  m.  the 
faculty,  students  and  invited  guests  assembled  in  the  hall, 
and  after  an  opening  selection  by  the  Band,,  the  Vice 
President  read  the  final  bulletins.  The  address  to  the 
graduates  was  delivered  by  Hon.  J.  W.  Arctander,  District 
Attorney  of  the  twelfth  judicial  district  of  Minnesota. 
He  began  by  relating  the  story  of  Aladdin's  lamp.  ''The 
old  rusty  copper  lamp,"  said  he,  "according  to  my  inter- 
pretation is  knowledge.  A  person  seeking  knowledge 
meets  with  difficulties,  as  Aladdin  did  when  sent  for  the 
lamp.  The  boy  rubs  against  the  lamp,  that  was  his 
will  power.  This  produced  talent  that  conquered  all  other 
forces.  Aladdin  was  sent  to  bring  an  old  rusty  copper 
lamp.  To  him  it  was  a  lamp  and  nothing  more,  he  did 
not  appreciate  its  worth.  So  too  with  a  boy  in  search  of 
knowledge.  To  him  many  branches  of  learning  appear  to 
be  taught  but  to  tease  or  plague;  but   this   is   a   mistaken 


74  St.    John's    University 

view,  for  every  branch  taught  is  a  step  forward,  yes,  every 
problem  that  you  solve,  every  old  classical  author  you 
lay  aside,  you  pass  another  milestone,  and  every  milestone 
that  you  pass  brings  you  nearer  and  nearer  to  your  des- 
tination." His  ringing  eloquence  brought  out  round 
after  round  of  applause.  This  was  not  the  only  occasion 
on  which  Mr.  Arctander  addressed  the  students;  his 
services  at  the  institution  as  a  lecturer  will  be  duly  re- 
corded in  the  course  of  these  annals. 

The  staff  of  professors  according  to  the  catalogue  con- 
sisted of  23  members,  the  total  enrollment  of  students  was 
203;  23  seminarians  and  180  students  in  the  other  de- 
partments. The  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Philosophy  was 
conferred  on  2  graduates,  that  of  M.  A.  on  23.  Five 
medals  of  gold  and  one  of  silver  were  awarded. 

1884-85 

The  frequency  with  which  applications  were  made  for 
the  a<imission  of  very  young  students  and  the  advisability 
of  separating  them  as  much  as  possible  from  older 
students  both  in  class  rooms  and  during  recreation  in- 
duced the  authorities  to  establish  a  special  Minim  De- 
partment. It  was  organized  and  directed  by  P.  Chrys- 
ostom  and  proved  to  be  a  very  useful  and  timely  institu- 
tion. 

Only  93  students  reported  for  the  resumption  of  classes. 
Towards  the  end  of  October  a  number  of  photographs 
were  taken  of  the  students  and  faculty  to  be  sent  to  the 
World's  Cotton  and  Industrial  exposition  at  New  Orleans. 
In  the  middle  of  November  the  institution  was  honored 
with  a  visit  of  Senator  McKenzie  of  Bismarck,  Dakota . 
The  college  Band  tendered  him  a   serenade. 

A  contemporary  report  mentions  religious  devotions 
which  tradition  has  hallowed,  namely  the  novena  before 
the  feast  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  and  the  Forty 
Hours  devotion.      The  influence  of  religion  as   an    educa- 


St.    John  s    University  75 

tional  factor  can  not  be  overestimated;  nothing  is  more 
necessary  or  more  valuable,  particularly  to  youths,  whose 
souls  are  so  susceptible,  so  easily  led  and  impressed,  so 
easily  decoyed  by  false  principles  and  deceitful  ambitions. 
But  for  the  purifying  and  elevating  influences  of  religion 
and  its  practices  many  a  young  man  would  have  cast  his 
earlier  convictions  overboard  and  drifted  out  into  the 
darkness  of  indifference.  This  is  why  religious  practices 
have  always  been  given  much  prominence  at  St.  John's. 

When  Abbot  Alexius  returned  from  the  Third  Plenary 
Council  of  Baltimore  in  December,  the  members  of  the 
Fourth  Latin  class  publicly  presented  a  program, consisting 
of  latin  dialogues  and  selections  from  classical  authors, 
before  the  faculty  and  students  of  the  classical  course. 

In  the  first  days  of  1885  the  Industrial  school  for  Chip- 
pewa Indian  boys  was  organized  in  the  stone-house;  fifty 
pupils  formed  the  first  class,  in  charge  of  P.  Chrysostom, 
assisted  by  Fr.  Meinrad  and  Bro.  Philip.  Part  of  the 
quarters  occupied  by  the  students  was  turned  over  to  the 
Industrial  school;  still  no  crowding  ensued  and  there  was 
consolation  in  the  prospect  that  the  new  buildings  could 
soon  be  occupied. 

Music  was,  according  to  an  extant  report,  diligently 
cultivated,  "four  professors  give  instruction  in  music,  and 
5  pianos,  2  organs,  flutes,  violins,  guitars  and  citherns  are 
in  service". 

Shortly  after  the  organization  of  the  Industrial  School. 
Father  Aloysius,  O.  S.  B.,  the  missionary  in  charge  at 
White  Earth,  came  to  see  the  institution.  On  the  Sunday 
following  his  arrival  he  preached  a  sermon  in  the  Chip- 
pewa tongue  in  w^hich  he  had  acquired  considerable 
fluency  in  the  six  years  of  his  sojourn  on  the  Reservation. 
In  the  afternoon  a  delegation  of  students  called  upon  him 
and  invited  him  to  deliver  a  lecture  on  the  Indian  mission 
at  White  Earth.  Although  he  was  fatigued  by  his  long 
journey,  he  granted  their  request   and  for    nearly  an  hour 


76  St.    Jobn's    University 

dwelt  upon  the  scenes  of  mission  life,  spicing  his  remarks 
with  anecdotes  and  vivid  descriptions. 

Crimes  and  misdemeanors  were  hitherto  such  unmean- 
ing terms  in  Collegeville  that  when  one  day  in  the  last 
week  of  January  it  was  reported  that  burglars  had  entered 
the  laundry  at  night,  and  had  maliciously  and  stealthily 
appropriated  one  clock,  three  colored  handkerchiefs  and 
ten  shirts,  all  students  stood  aghast.  A  reward  of  $25 
was  offered  for  the  detection  of  the  thief.  One  gentleman 
with  a  Sherlock  Holmes  eye  took  note  that  the  footprints 
were  made  by  a  No.  9  boot,  and  that  the  individual  was 
accompanied  by  a  dog.  The  guilty  party  was  dis- 
covered some  time  after  and  together  with  his  family 
sought  a  home  in  some  other  clime. 

On  the  evening  of  March  19,  the  members  of  the 
Foarth  Latin  class  again  invited  faculty  and  students  to 
witness  a  "Ludus  theatralis",  a  Latin  drama  entitled 
"St.  Stanislaus  Kostka".  Thirteen  pupils  were  engaged 
in  the  play  and  Father  John  wrote  the  incidental  music. 
Class  room  No.  2  was  the  hall  employed  for   the  occasion. 

Father  Urban  about  this  time  was  busy  arranging  a 
mineralogical  collection  of  several  hundred  specimens. 
A  large  number  of  beautiful  petrifactions  from  the  Bad 
Lands  was  presented  to  the  cabinet  by  Father  Martin, 
O.  S.  B.,  then  pastor  of  Mandan,  Dak. 

At  the  approach  of  the  Easter  holidays,  the  press  cor- 
respondent wrote:  "Students  at  the  University  say 
'thrice  a  year  comes  judgment  day'.  The  second  of  these 
awe-inspiring  occasions  has  just  passed  and  now  each 
traveler  up  the  mount  of  science  knows  just  how  he  stands 
in  the  eyes  of  alma  mater  and  with  the  faculty.  To 
obtain  in  all  classes  an  average  note  of  75%  out  of  a 
possible  100  requires  diligent  application  and  no  small 
amount  of  intellectual  ability." 

P.  Chrysostom  Schreiner,  who  had,  since  his  entrance 
into  the  Benedictine  order,   served   at   St.   John's   in   the 


St.    John's    University  77 

capacity  of  a  professor,  prefect  of  the  seminary  and  for 
some  time  as  director  of  the  Industrial  school,  wasa  ppoint- 
ed  successor  to  P.  Ulric  in  the  vice  presidency  of  the 
University  on  April  16th.  P.  Chrysostom  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  ground  he  was  to  tread  and  set  to  work 
energetically.  P.  Ulric  continued  to  teach  music  and 
never,  to  the  day  of  his  death  five  years  later,  lost  the 
esteem  of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

After  the  ice  had  disappeared  from  the  lake  on  April  21, 
provisions  were  made  for  enjoying  the  summer.  Three  new 
boats  were  launched;  the  largest  of  the  group  called  the 
British  Isles  was  turned  into  a  miniature  park  and  a 
small  pavilion  set  in  its  midst.  It  was  a  favorite  resort  for 
several  years  and  an  ideal  spot  to  while  away  a  free  after- 
noon over  a  book.  During  the  month  the  Band  gave 
several  gondola  and  lawn  concerts  after  supper. 

One  evening  in  that  month  of  June,  says  a  diary,  a 
cyclone  formed  in  the  heavens  to  the  east.  All  watched 
it  with  some  consternation,  but  the  threatening  peril  was 
broken  up  by  the  wind.  Coming  events  cast  their 
shadows  before  them. 

At  the  annual  commencement  on  June  25th,  Hon.  H. 
C.  Waite  read  an  original  poem.  The  degree  of  Ph.  B. 
was  conferred  on  5  graduates,  that  of  M.  A.  on  17  and  the 
honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  on  Hon.  H.  C.  Waite,  J.  W. 
Arctander  and  E.  H.  Morse.  Twelve  medals  were  award- 
ed. Enrollment:  18  seminarians,  161  students  in  all  other 
departments,  total  179,  At  the  end  of  the  catalogue  was 
a  card  of  thanks  for  donations  to  the  museum;  the  donors 
were  Bishop  Seidenbush,  Fathers  Martin,  Aloysius  and 
Pancratius,  Rev.  F.  X.  Schulac,  S.  J.,  Mrs.  Gannon  of 
Bismarck,  D.  T.  and  Mr.  F.  J.  Rothpletz,  Red  Lake  Falls, 
Minn. 

In  the  early  days  of  vacation  the  institution  was  honored 
with  visits  by  the  late  bishops  F.  X.  Krautbauer  of  Green 
Bay  and  J.  B.  Brondel  of  Helena,  Mont.     The  former  had 


78  St.    John's    University 

come  upon  invitation  of  Bisliop  Seidenbnsh,  who  was 
abroad  for  his  health,  to  hold  the  animal  ordination  ser- 
vices at  St.  John's. 

Father  Chrysostom,  with  the  assistance  of  a  few  boys 
who  remained  at  the  college  during  vacation,  renovated  the 
Stella  Maris  chapel  and  replaced  the  old  spire  which  was 
falling  to  pieces,  with  a  new  one. 

1885—86 

The  fall  term  which  opened  on  September  3,  found  80 
names  on  the  rolls.  Room  was  growing  scarce  and  all 
were  anxiously  looking  for  the  completion  of  the  new 
buildings.  One  of  the  pleasing  occurrences  of  the  first 
month  was  a  visit  from  Bishop  Seidenbush,  who  had  just 
returned  from  the  East  after  a  serious  and  protracted  illness. 

On  October  15,  Mr.  J.  W.  Arctander  opened  the  lecture 
course  by  a  lecture  on  ''Sketches  of  Everyday  Life  in  Im- 
perial Rome"  for  the  special  benefit  of  the  classical  stu- 
dents. In  the  commercial  class  a  series  of  lectures  was 
also  arranged;  they  were  delivered  during  the  winter 
months,  being  inaugurated  by  Judge  L.  W,  Collins  of  St. 
Cloud,  on  November  4th.  He  delivered  four  lectures  and 
was  followed  in  January  by  Judge  D.  B.  Searle.  who  de- 
livered an  equal  number.  Both  these  gentlemen,  who 
enjoy  a  distinguished  reputation  in  legal  circles,  have 
many  claims  upon  the  gratitude  of  the  faculty  and  stu- 
dents, not  only  of  '86  but  of  many  following  years. 

The  last  celebration  of  a  public  nature  held  in  the  old 
buildings  was  that  of  tenth  anniversary  of  Abbot  Alexius' 
installment  into  office.  The  exercises  which  consisted  of 
music,  songs  and  speeches  by  several  of  the  professors, 
were  conducted  in  the  Senior  study-hall. 

On  All  Souls'  Day  the  students  walked  in  procession  to 
the  cemetery  as  they  had  been  wont  to  do  in  years  past. 
Never  has  this  venerable  tradition  been  lost  sight  of. 
Several  days  later  the  news  arrived  of  the  death  of  Joseph 


St.     John's    University  79 

Weisser,  of  St.  Cloud,  a  brother  of  P.  Otto  Weisser.  The 
former  had  pursued  the  classical  course  of  study  with  a 
view  of  entering  the  Benedictine  Order.  Towards  the  end 
of  his  course  he  was  compelled  to  discontinue;  unmis- 
takable signs  of  consumption  showed  themselves  and  he 
was  soon  at  death's  door.  Nevertheless  he  desired  to  be- 
come a  member  of  the  Order  and  his  prayer  for  admission 
was  granted.  He  was  invested  with  the  habit  on  August 
13,  was  given  the  religious  name  of  Fr.  Athanasius  and 
made  the  vows  of  the  Order:  on  November  5th  he  passed 
to  a  better  life.  He  was  buried  in  the  abbey  cemetery  and 
many  of  his  former  classmates  attended  the  funeral  cere- 
monies. 

An  elaborate  series  of  entertainments  was  given  on 
Thanksgiving  Day  under  the  auspices  of  the  Alexian  Dra- 
matic and  Philharmonic  Associations,  both  of  which  had 
just  come  into  existence  and  were  displaying  astounding 
vitality.  On  the  evening  of  November  25,  the  eve  of 
Thanksgiving,  a  German  farce,  "Doctor  Wunderlich,"  set 
the  audience  in  good  humor  for  the  efforts  of  the  next  day. 
On  the  26th  there  was  a  second  entertainment,  the  prin- 
cipal feature  of  which  was  a  dramatic  performance,  "The 
Elder  Brother."  The  orchestra  made  its  first  appearance 
on  this  occasion;  among  its  members  was  Mr.  Max  Dick, 
whose  solos  were  much  admired  and  who  has  since  charmed 
many  audiences  from  the  eastern  to  the  western  coast. 
The  exercises  were  held  in  the  first  floor  of  the  north 
wing,  now  the  Commercial  Hall. 

On  January  6th  175  students  were  reported  in  attend- 
ance. For  a  moment  the  authorities  were  perplexed,  but 
the  question  was  solved  by  establishing  a  temporary  study 
hall  on  the  third  floor  of  the  monastery  building.  Only 
the  most  sedate  gentlemen  from  the  Senior  hall  were  trans- 
ferred to  these  new  quarters,  which  by  their  envious  fel- 
lows were  contemptuously  denominated  the  Dudes'  De- 
partment. 


80  St.    John's    University 

At  the  opening  of  the  second  session,  in  February,  the 
Commercial  Department  was  transferred  to  the  third  floor 
of  the  new  extension  of  the  main  building.  It  was  a  proud 
hall  90  ft.  long  and  25  ft.  wide,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
corridor,  and  in  later  years  was  cut  up  into  a  number  of 
small  apartments  for  the  seminarians.  At  the  same  time 
a  hall  of  almost  equal  size  on  the  second  floor  of  the  exten- 
sion was  fitted  up  as  a  dormitory  for  the  smaller  students. 

Another  entertainment  was  offered  on  Washington's 
Birthday  in  presence  of  many  friends  of  the  institution. 
At  2  p.  m.  "the  Elder  Brother"  passed  over  the  boards  a 
second  time,  and  it  was  followed  by  a  German  sketch ''Aus 
Haendel's  Jugend."  The  several  acts  were  interspersed 
with  numbers  by  the  band  and  orchestra,  instrumental 
solos  on  the  violin,  cithern  and  flute,  and  vocal  selections. 
Hon.  H.  C.  Waite  and  Hon.  J.  L.  Wilson,  of  St.  Cloud, 
delivered  brief  addresses  at  the  conclusion  of  the  exercises. 

A  few  days  later,  March  5,  there  was  an  eclipse  of  the 
sun;  the  people  of  Minnesota  had  been  told  all  about  it  in 
advance  by  one  Severinus  J.  Corrigan,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Who  is  Corrigan?  Years  ago,  as  early  as  '68  he  was  a  stu- 
dent at  St.  John's;  next  he  betook  himself  to  the  study  of 
law,  then  turned  to  the  physical  sciences,  which  he  studied 
for  six  years,  became  assistant  in  the  office  of  the  Ameri- 
can Ephemeris  and  Nautical  Almanac,  bureau  of  Naviga- 
tion, U.  S.  Navy  Dept.;  made  special  studies  in  electrical 
science  and  wrote  several  monographs  and  a  number  of 
professional  papers  of  original  research  in  astronomy  and 
physics.*  For  the  last  two  decades  Mr.  Corrigan  has  lost 
few  opportunities  to  enlighten  his  fellow  citizens  on  extra- 
ordinary celestial  phenomena  through  the  daily  press  of 
St.  Paul,  where  he  made  his  permanent  residence  about 
1884.  His  reports  could  not  only  claim  scientific  accuracy 
but  were  written  in  a  very  popular,  attractive  style.  Speak- 
ing, for  instance,  of  the  eclipse  of  March  5th,  he  says:  "At 

*  Who's  Who  in  America  1901-02. 


St.    John's    University  81 

the  time  of  greatest  obscuration  the  sun  will  be  nearly  in 
the  horizon  and  sunset  will  intervene  before  the  end  of 
the  eclipse,  which  will  therefore  not  be  visible  at  St.  Paul 
but  only  farther  to  the  west,  Now  altho'  nature,  deeming 
probably  that  St.  Paul  has  had  a  surfeit  of  spectacular 
entertainment  of  late,  will  thus  ring  down  the  curtain  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  performance,  the  following  diagram 
will  furnish  a  view  of  the  phenomenon  from  beginning  to 
end;  and  in  the  event  of  cloudy  skies,  which  are  very  likely 
to  interfere,  these  diagrams  may  have  to  take  the  place  of 
the  actual  spectacle." 

April  14th  will  for  generations  be  a  memorable  day  for 
Stearns  county,  for  on  that  day  a  cyclone  dealt  desolation 
and  death  to  St.  Cloud  and  Sauk  Rapids.  It  was  a  dark 
day  at  St.  John's  and  a  heavy  rain  poured  down  after  the 
storm  had  passed  by.  Two  days  later  services  were  held 
for  the  victims  of  the  disaster  among  whom  was  Mr.  Juene- 
mann,  father  of  Fr.  Demetrius. 

On  April  23  the  venerable  Father  Clement  Staub,  who 
had  acquired  a  wide-spread  reputation  as  a  physician,  died 
at  St.  Joseph,  Minn,  and  was  buried  among  his  brethren 
at  the  monastery. 

On  June  20th,  P.  Stephen  Koefler,  O.  S.  B.,  who  had 
been  ordained  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  celebrated 
his  First  Holy  Mass  in  the  college  chapel.  The  following 
day,  June  21.  was  devoted  to  the  commencement  exer- 
cises which  consisted  simply  of  the  distribution  of  prem- 
iums. On  June  22nd,  the  second  general  meeting  of  the 
Alumni  was  held  and  the  boys  of  '86  had  an  opportunity 
to  meet  representative  students  of  former  school  years. 
After  the  banquet  which  was  held  in  the  present  exhibi- 
tion hall,  the  degrees  and  prizes  were  awarded  to  the  out- 
going class.  The  degree  of  Ph.  B.  was  conferred  on  5  gra- 
duates; that  of  M.  A.  on  30:  that  of  Ph.  D.  on  Rev.  Chry- 
sostom  Schreiner  and  that  of  Doctor  of  Philology  on 
Rev.  Urban  Fischer.     The  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  was 


82  St.    Johns's    Univeestty 

conferred  on  Judge  L.  W.  Collins  and  Hon.  D.  B.  Searle.. 
of  St,  Cloud.  Gold  and  silver  medals  to  the  number  of  12 
were  awarded  in  various  classes.  On  tlie  roll  of  students 
were  215  names  —  22  seminarians  and  193  in  all  other  de- 
partments. All  signs  for  a  bright  future  were  favorable. 
During  vacation  the  north  and  west  wings  of  the  new 
addition  were  prepared  for  occupancy. 

1886-87 

Luckily  for  the  chronicler,  there  is  extant  in  the  cata- 
logue of  1886-87  a  condensed  history  of  that  school  year. 
It  covers  only  two  pages  in  print  but  omits  nothing  that  is 
worthy  of  mention.  Being  the  first  production  of  its  kind, 
it  shall  be  here  reprinted  in  its  entirety: 

September  7.  Students  are  arriving  with  every  train  and  there  will 
be  life  in  the  camp  from  date. 

September  8.  The  school  term  began  this  morning.  Solemn  High 
Mass  was  celebrated  by  the  Rev.  Vice  President  before  class  hours^ 

In  the  basement  of  the  north  wing  a  spacious  play  hall,  60x80,  has 
been  arranged  and  furnished  with  a  first  class  bowling-alley  running 
the  full  length  of  the  hall.  Turning  poles,  vaulting-bars  and  other 
gymnastical  apparatus  will  follow. 

Beside  the  usual  Quarterly  Bulletins,  monthly  Conduct  Bulletins 
will  be  published  and  read. 

October  24.  Father  Cyrill,  O.  S.  B.,  one  of  the  Professors  and  Mr. 
John  Sroka  were  ordained  priests  at  St.  Cloud  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Seidenbush. 

November  13.  Forty  Hours  Devotion  commenced  to-day  and  closed 
on  the  15th. 

November  23.  The  new  University  buildings  were  solemnly  dedi- 
cated by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Pres't.  Abbot  Alexius  Edelbrock.  About  35 
priests  were  present  at  the  solemnity.  The  blessing  took  place  after 
Pontifical  High-Mass  sung  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot.  In  the  afternoon 
an  entertainment  was  given  by  the  Dramatical  and  Musical  Associa- 
tions. "The  Runaways"  and  the  "Victim  of  Friendship"  were  the  two 
dramatic  pieces  produced.  On  invitation  the  pupils  of  the  Industrial 
School  contributed  materially  to  the  entertainment. 

November  25.  Thanksgiving-Day  was  observed  by  a  High-Mass  at 
7  o'clock.  In  the  afternoon  a  concert  was  given  by  the  dramatical 
and  musical  Associations. 

December.    Owing  to  the  extraordinary  amount  of  snow  there  is 


St.    John^s    Univeesity  83 

^ery  little  skating  this  winter. 

December  18.  The  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Martin  Marty,  O.  S.  B.,  D.  D., 
of  the  Vicariate  Apostolic  of  Dakota,  is  the  guest  of  the  University 
to-day.  At  the  Students'  Mass  this  morning  he  conferred  Minor 
Orders  on  Messrs.  Jas.  A.  Durward  and  Charles  F.  Robinson. 

December  19.  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Marty  preached  a  very  eloquent 
sermon  in  the  Students"  Chapel,  and  departed  from  the  University  in 
the  afternoon. 

December  22,  First  reading  of  Quarterly  Class  Bulletins. 

December  25.  The  students  who  spent  the  Christmas  holidays  at 
the  University  were  not  forgotten.  A  stately  Christmas  tree  in  the 
Commercial  Hall  had  gifts  for  every  one  of  them. 

1887-January  5,  Classes  were  resumed. 

January  18.  A  solemn  Requiem  for  the  late  James  McMaster, 
Editor  of  the  New  York  Freeman's  Journal  and  the  most  distin- 
guished Catholic  American  journalist,  who  died  Dec.  28,  1886,  was  ce- 
lebrated  in  the  Students'  Chapel. 

January  26.  The  Rev.  Vice  President's  namesday.  Appropriate 
addresses  were  read  by  the  students  and  the  University  Band  fur- 
nished choice  musical  numbers. 

February  17.  Hon.  D.  B.  Searle  LL.  D.,  delivered  his  first  lecture 
on  Contracts  before  the  Commercial  Class. 

February  22.  Washington's  Birthday, — the  great  national  holiday 
and  college  freeday  was  enthusiastically  celebrated.  In  the  after- 
noon an  entertainment,  complimentary  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  President, 
who  returned  from  the  East  on  the  day  previous,  was  given  by  the 
Alexian  Dramatic  and  Musical  Associations.  The  two  short  comedies, 
•Master  Goat"  and  -"Der  gescheidte  Damian"  caused  great  merri- 
ment and  a  never  ending  applause  was  accorded  the  Juvenile  Orch- 
estra of  14  pieces,  which  furnished  some  very  enjoyable  music. 

Pour  brilliant,  red-light  tableaux,  representing  leading  events  of 
AVashington's  career,  terminated  the  concert. 

March  12.  Two  pool-tables  were  put  up  in  the  play  hall  for  the  use 
of  students  during  recreation  hours. 

March  21.  Feast  of  St.  Benedict.  This  day  being  the  greatest 
feast  of  the  Benedictine  Order  was  appropriately  celebrated  by  a 
Solemn  Pontifical  High  Mass,  the  Rt.  Rev,  Abbot  officiating. 

April  5.  Beginning  of  the  Easter  holidays.  Quite  a  number  of 
students  will  spend  the  latter  part  of  Holy  Week  at  their  homes. 

The  reading  of  the  Quarterly  Class  Bulletins  took  place. 

April  10.  Easter  Day.  At  Solemn  Pontifical  High  Mass  celebrated 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  President,  the  following  Rev.  FF.  made  solemn  vows 
for  the  Benedictine  Order:  Oswald  Baran,  Prefect  of  the  Junior  De- 


84  St.    John's    University 

partment,  Meinrad  Rettenmaier,  Superintendent  of  the  Industrial 
School,  Henry  Borgerding,  Prefect  of  the  Commercial  Department 
and  Ambrose  Rank,  O.  S.  B. 

April  11.  Revs.  Oswald,  Meinrad,  Henry,  Ambrose  and  Messrs. Dan 
Lynch  and  Pat.  Gary  were  ordained  Sub-deacons  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Seidenbusch,  at  St.  Cloud,  and  B.  Sproll  received  Minor  Orders. 

April  12.  Revs.  Meinrad,  Ambrose,  Henry,  Pat.  Cary  and  Dan 
Lynch  were  ordained  Deacons  and  Mr.  B.  Sproll  Sub-deacon. 

Father  Benedict  Haindl,  0.  8.  B.,  a  member  of  St.  John's  Abbey 
and  the  first  who  received  the  habit  of  the  Benedictine  Order  in  the 
United  States,  died  yesterday  morning  at  St.  Benedict's  Priory,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.  He  was  born  August  10,  1815,  was  ordained  priest 
April  20.  1849,  entered  upon  missionary  labors  in  Minnesota  April  11, 
1857.  He  had  consequently  worked  38  years  in  his  holy  and  noble 
calling. 

The  corpse  was  brought  to  the  Monastery  for  interment.  All  the 
students  attended  the  funeral  services, 

April  17.  Revs.  Isidore  Siegler  and  Henry  Borgerding,  O.  S.  B., 
both  Prefects  in  the  University,  were  ordained  priests  to-day. 

April  19.  In  testimony  of  the  great  honor  conferred  on  their  supe- 
riors, the  students  presented  the  newly  ordained  priests  with  valu- 
able homiletical  works. 

April  24.  Father  Isidore  Siegler  celebrated  his  First  Holy  Mass  at 
the  University  Church,  at  which  all  the  students  assisted.  Father 
Henry  Borgerding  celebrated  his  First  Holy  Mass  at  Freeport,  Minn. 

April  25.  Judge  L.  W.  Collins,  LL.  D.,  delivered  his  last  lecture 
on  Commercial  Paper. 

May  1.  This  was  a  free-day  for  the  students  and  it  is  superfluous 
to  add  that  they  enjoyed  it. 

May  2.  The  boats,  having  been  painted  and  repaired,  were  laun- 
ched.    Fishing  is  the  most  popular  sport  this  season. 

May  22.  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Seidenbusch  administered  the  Sacrament 
of  Confirmation  here  to-day. 

May  25.  The  Juniors  had  a  May-party  on  Doctor's  Island. 

May  26.  The  boys  enjoyed  the  first  swim  of  the  season.  In  the 
evening  the  University  Band,  assisted  by  the  Vocal  Music  Class  gave 
an  open  air  concert. 

There  is  little  to  add.  Early  in  June  a  set  of  stage 
sceneries  and  a  drop  curtain  painted  in  Chicago,  arrived 
and  was  mounted  for  the  approaching  closing  exercises  on 
June  22ud.  For  once  the  play  was  again  resorted  to  as 
the  most   attractive    feature    of   the   exercises.     Cardinal 


St.    John  s    University  85 

Wiseman's   "The   Hidden   Gem,"  a  favorite   on   Catholic 
stages,  was  excellently  played. 

Eleven  medals  were  awarded,  and  the  degree  of  M.  A. 
conferred  on  16  graduates  of  the  commercial  course.  179 
students  were  enrolled  —  of  these  27  were  seminarians  and 
152  in  all  other  departments.  No  doubt,  the  number  was 
disappointing,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  powerful  efforts  had 
been  made  to  fit  up  accommodations  for  a  class  nearly 
twice  as  large.  In  the  basement  of  the  north  wing  which 
adjoins  the  church  at  the  rear,  was  the  play-hall ;  on  the 
second,  the  Senior  hall,  above  this  the  exhibition  hall. 
The  wing  running  north  and  south  contained  a  dining 
room  and  lavatories,  class  rooms,  music  rooms  and  a  dor- 
mitory, while  the  extension  of  the  main  building  contained 
rooms  for  the  faculty  and  guests.  All  the  rooms  were 
bright  and  airy  and  a  vast  improvement  upon  the  earlier 
(quarters. 

1887-88 

More  than  one  hundred  students  were  registered  during 
the  first  week  after  the  opening  of  school  in  September. 
For  Thanksgiving  day  a  musical  and  dramatical  entertain- 
ment was  prepared.  It  was  held  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
and  was  witnessed  by  a  number  of  people  from  St,  Cloud. 
The  plays  produced  were  "The  Photograph,"  a  bit  of 
humor,  and  the  three  act  drama  "The  Proscribed  Heir." 
x^s  usual,  the  Band  and  Orchestra  supplied  fine  music, 
overtures,  operatic  selections,  marches  etc.;  the  former 
organization  had,  at  the  time  20  members,  and  the  latter  17. 

Early  in  December  two  Remington  typewriting  ma- 
chines were  installed  for  the  benefit  of  commercial  students 
and  thus  the  foundation  was  laid  for  cultivating  a  branch  of 
study  much  in  demand.  At  first  the  instruments  were  not 
much  patronized,  but  with  the  growing  popularity  of 
phonography  the  number  of  applicants  for  instruction  on 
the  typewriter  also  grew. 


86  St.    John's    University 

On  December  8  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  the  vener- 
able arch-abbot  Boniface  Wimmer  of  St.  Vincent's  abbey 
arrived.  But  few  there  were  who  remembered  how  thirty 
years  earlier  he  had  visited  this  region  to  observe  the 
growth  of  the  shoot  he  had  planted  in  the  shade  of  the 
western  forests.  He  had  labored  long  and  patiently,  com- 
batted  difficulties  to  which  many  another  person  would 
have  succumbed  and  laid  his  weary  head  to  rest  confident 
*that  his  fourscore  years  had  been  well  spent. 

In  the  middle  of  December  circulars  were  sent  to  alumni 
and  friends  of  the  institution,  apprising  them  of  the  con- 
templated establishment  of  a  college  journal  to  be  known 
as  "The  St.  John's  University  Record."  It  was  to  serve 
as  a  medium  of  communication  between  the  institution 
and  former  students,  and  a  publication  in  which  the  stu- 
dents might  make  their  maiden  attempts  at  journalism. 
The  Alexian  Literary  Association  under  direction  of  P. 
Chrysostom  undertook  to  launch  the  enterprise.  A  suf- 
ficiently large  subscription  list  was  guaranteed  in  a  short 
time  and  towards  the  end  of  January  1888  the  first  number 
of  the  "Record"  appeared. 

It  was  a  12-page  quarto,  running  three  columns  to  the 
page,  was  printed  on  slightly  tinted  paper  and  a  credit  to 
its  printers,  the  St.  Cloud  Daily  Times,  who  printed  all 
the  monthly  issues  of  the  "Record."  The  publication  con- 
tained, after  a  prefatory  observation,  essays  on  "Economy" 
a  biographical  sketch  of  Pope  Leo  XIII.  an  obituary  of 
the  late  archabbot  Boniface  Wimmer,  an  historical  essay 
on  Leif  Ericsson  and  an  article  on  "The  Country  of  the 
Midnight  Sun."  In  the  editorial  columns  a  tribute  is 
paid  to  the  memory  of  archabbot  Wimmer,  and  nearly  a 
column  is  devoted  to  a  review  of  a  book  "How  to  improve 
Memory."  Incidentally  the  editor  apologizes  for  the  absence 
of  poetry  from  the  issue  and  holds  himself  excused  on  the 
plea  that  he  has  "not  yet  engaged  a  poet  to  do  the  rhymes 
for  the  Record,  and  the  depressed  condition  of  the  mercury 


St.    John's    University  87 

during  the  last  four  weeks  has  probably  dampened  the 
rising,  ready  rhymes  of  the  traditional  spring  poet."  Next 
followed  a  page  of  local  items  —  the  field  from  which  the 
historian  must  chiefly  garner  his  information  for  the 
next  two  decades.  A  page  was  given  to  former  students; 
this  was  followed  by  book  reviews;  a  list  of  Honorable 
Mention  —  which  from  that  time  made  iis  appearance 
regularly  every  mouth.  Page  10  was  taken  up  by  a  batch 
of  scientific  notes,  and  a  Sioux  legend;  pages  11  and  12  by 
anecdotes  and  advertisements.  Among  the  first  adver- 
tisers were  H.  C.  Metzl,  the  jeweler.  Dr.  C.  C.  Rosenkranz, 
the  dentist,  Pandel  &  Nugent,  of  the  Empire  Store  and 
Jos.  Edelbrock  of  St.  Cloud;  D.  O'Halloran,  book  dealer 
and  Stierle's  Pharmacy,  St.  Paul;  Brown  &  Haywood  of 
Minneapolis,  B.  Herder  of  St.  Louis,  Mrs.  F.  Bernick 
and  St.  Benedict's  Academy,  of  St.  Joseph. 

The  "Record"  came  to  stay  and  both  contributors  and 
subscribers  made  its  stay  possible.  Like  many  other  jour- 
nals, it  gradually  discovered  that  quarto  was  not  a  con- 
venient size;  accordingly  it  was  reduced  to  octavo  in  1891, 
and  in  that  size  has  come  down  to  this  day.  The  subscrip- 
tion price  of  $1.00  placed  it  within  easy  reach  of  every 
graduate.  Frank  Schaller,  '68,  be  it  said  to  his  credit,  was 
the  first  subscriber. 

That  January  was  a  cold,  cold  month;  the  mercury  slip- 
ped down  to  —  38°  on  the  15th,  there  was  such  a  heavy 
snowfall  that  no  trains  passed  Collegeville  from  the  11th 
to  the  14th  aod  the  boys  had  not  enjoyed  one  day  of  skat- 
ing since  the  beginning  of  winter.  Indoors,  the  Ajax 
athletic  club  was  cultivating  the  art  of  boxing  and  other 
gymnastical  exercises.  This  club  which  had  for  its  motto 
"No  mouthing:  all  training,"  was  organized  under  the  pre- 
sidency of  P.  F.  McDonough,  but  did  not  live  long  enough 
to  secure  recognition  in  the  annual  catalogue. 

A  pleasant  event  was  the  celebration  of  the  Rev.  Vice 
President's   namesday  on   January   27th,   the  feast  of  St. 


88  St.    John's    TTniversitt 

Chrysostom.  The  Record  describes  it  as  follows:  "In  the 
afternoon  preceding  the  feast  the  several  Departments  pre- 
sented their  congratulations.  The  University  Band,  in 
the  meantime  rendered  some  of  its  best  numbers.  The 
Juniors  substantiated  their  felicitations  by  a  splendid  pair 
of  slippers  and  an  autograph  album  in  which  each  of  them 
had  inscribed  some  appropriate  good  wish.  The  Senior 
and  Commercial  departments  had  combined  to  donate 
something  worth  while,  bnt  their  plans  were  waylaid  by 
the  deceitful  freightcar,  which  failed  to  bring  the  present 
until  the  next  day.  The  surprise  was  then  rushed  upon 
the  Rev.  Vice  President.  In  an  appropriate  address  the 
spokesman,  Mas,  F.  Bemick,  presented,  in  the  name  of 
all  the  student's,  a  valuable  secretary.  On  the  morning  of 
the  27th  a  Solemn  High  Mass  was  sung  by  Rev.  F.  Chry- 
sostom,  after  which  the  joys  of  the  free-day  were  indulged 
in." 

Then  followed  the  semi-annual  examinations,which  were 
conducted  by  several  boards  of  examiners  who  visited  the 
various  classes.  200  students  were  in  attendance  on  Feb- 
ruary 1. 

Washington's  Birthday  was  celebratedby  an  entertain- 
ment given  by  the  Alexian  Dramatic  Association.  A  one 
act  drama,  "King  Alfred"  was  presented.  Among  the 
musical  selections  were  the  "American  Overture,"  Recol- 
lections of  the  War"  and  "Flowers  of  St.  Petersburg 
Waltzes." 

On  March  7,  the  feast  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  the  patron 
of  Christian  schools,  was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  by  a 
literary  and  musical  entertainment.  "The  sacred  drama 
'Joseph  in  Egypt,'  was  rendered  with  such  excellence  and 
feeling  that  it  drew  tears  from  many  of  the  audience." 
All  the  critics  ventured  to  say  in  print,  was  that  the  cos- 
tumes "had  not  quite  as  much  of  the  ancient  'cut.  fold  and 
lay,'  as  they  might  have  had."  Mr.  Joseph  Langen,  of  the 
Seminary,  delivered  an  essay  on  "St.  Thomas,  the  Theo- 


Rev.  Cornelius  Wittmann,  O. 
Rev.   Ulric  Northman,  O.   S     f 


Rev.  Wolfgang   Northman,  O.   S.  B. 
Rev    Chrysostom  Schreiner,  O.  S. 


LIBRARY 

Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.    John's    University  89 

logian;"  Mr.  Ambrose  McNulty,  of  the  Seminary,  dis- 
coursed upon  "St.  Thomas,  thePhilosopher'- and  Mas  Geo. 
Bahner  described  "St.  Thomas  at  School." 

Judges  Collins  ond  Searle  again  favored  the  Commer- 
cial class  with  a  series  of  lectures  during  the  spring. 

Spring  was  late  in  arriving,  the  snow  was  loath  to  go. 
the  ice  did  not  disappear  before  April  25th  and  the  base- 
ball teams  were  growing  restive.  May  found  all  recon- 
ciled to  the  climate,  so  much  so  that  a  local  poet,  who 
wrote  anonymously,  indulged  in  such  strains  as  the  follow- 
ing: 

Come  let  us  away  while  the  weather  is  gay, 

And  our  boat  is  again  on  the  shore, 
We'll  row  o'er  the  lake  some  pleasure  to  take, 

And  think  of  the  days  of  yore,  — 
Those  days  when  as  boys  our  hearts  full  of  joys, 

Our  lines  in  the  water  we  pass, 
And  rowed  right  along  to  the  tune  of  light  song 

As  we  hauled  in  the  pickerel  and  bass. 

A  local  reporter  notes  several  improvements,  such  as  the 
renovation  of  the  cupola  on  the  main  buildings  and  the 
conversion   of  Boniface  Place  into  a  park. 

During  the  first  week  in  June  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hi- 
bernians were  holding  their  State  convention  at  St.  Cloud. 
Pursuant  to  an  invitation  from  the  Rev.  Vice  President, 
the  delegates  visited  the  institution  in  a  body  on  June  6th. 
They  were  entertained  at  luncheon  in  the  University  din- 
ing room,  where  a  number  of  speeches  were  delivered  by 
the  visitors  and  several  members  of  the  faculty. 

On  commencement  day,  June  21,  Rev.  Gerard  Spiel, 
mann,  O.  S.  B.,  celebrated  his  First  Holy  Mass  in  the 
college  chapel.  At  8  o'clock  the  distribution  of  premiums 
took  place.  No  programme  of  exercises  had  been  issued. 
There  were  very  few  visitors  present  and  hence  the  cele- 
bration was  a  very  quiet  one. 


90  St.    John's    University 

Eleven  gold  medals  and  one  silver  medal  were  awarded.. 
22  graduates  received  the  title  of  M.  A.  and  one  that  of 
Ph.  B.  The  total  enrollment  lor  the  year  was  224  —  28 
seminarians  and  196  in  all  c*ther  departments.  A  zinc- 
etching,  reproduced  from  a  photographof  the  buildings, 
adorned  the  catalogue. 

1888-89 

During  vacation  a  force  of  steam-fitters  began  work  at 
installing  the  heating  plant  in  the  buildings.  A  power 
house  50X50  was  built  some  400  feet  west  of  the  buildings: 
in  it  were  placed  five  large  boilers  and  a  pump.  A  supply 
main  ran  from  the  boiler  house  to  the  main  buildings  and 
connected  with  an  enormous  net-work  of  pipes  which  were 
to  carry  the  steam  to  every  part  of  the  buildings.  Three 
months  were  consumed  in  the  work,  and  on  October  17th 
the  efficiency  of  the  plant  was  tested.  The  day  of  the  stove 
was  over  and  the  horrors  of  winter  lost  their  edge.  In  hi& 
glee  the  Eecord  poet  burst  forth  into  these  strains: 

Let  old  Boreas  come  forth  from  his  cave  in  the  North, 

And  rage  in  his  terrible  wrath. 
Over  hill  and  o'er  dale  till  the  forest  doth  wail. 

At  the  blight  he  leaves  in  his  path. 
We  heed  not  his  blast  howe'er  angry  'tis  cast, 

It  brings  us  not  suffering  or  sorrow 
Ten  fires  glow  red  and  steam's  at  full  head, 

From  these  our  comfort  we  borrow. 

On  Thanksgiving  day  the  Rev.  Vice-President  celebrated 
a  solemn  High  Mass,  and  delivered  a  short  exhortation.  In 
the  afternoon  the  literary  societies  gave  a  short  entertain- 
ment, to  the  success  of  which  the  musicians  contributed  in 
no  small  measure.  Mr.  A.  L.  McNulty  was  the  orator  of 
the  day:  his  address  was  followed  by  a  comical  sketch 
'*  Wan  ted:  a  Confidential  Clerk,"  The  entertainment  was 
largely  enjoyed  by  all,  "even  by  Jonathan  Dobbs,"  says  the 
Eecord,  "who  sees  in  it  a  vindication  of  the  old  proverb: 
"All  work  and  no  play  makes  John  a  dull  boy." 


St.    John  s    University  91 

A  dreary  winter  followed:  the  spirit  of  sport  could  not 
be  roused.  "What's  the  matter  with  football?"  queried 
the  local  reporter.  "The  meagre  remnants  of  what  once 
was  an  enthusiastic  crowd  are  a  sad  spectacle  on  the  campus. 
What  a  lonesome  life  must  be  that  of  a  football  —  no  one 
to  love  him,  no  one  even  to  kick  him!"  It  is  unnecessary 
to  state  that  the  Juniors  found  ample  resources  for  fan  in 
their  toboggan  slides. 

On  January  22  a  printing  outfit,  consisting  of  three 
presses,  a  complete  set  of  book  and  job  type,  paper-knife 
and  other  requisites  of  a  printery,  once  owned  by  the  de- 
funct St.  Cloud  Tribune,  was  purchased  and  set  up  in  the 
first  floor  of  the  southeast  wing.  From  this  office  the 
Record  was  issued  since  February  1889,  although  it  cost 
many  a  patient  struggle,  such  as  only  an  an  amateur  prin- 
ter can  realize,  before  satisfactory  work  could  be  turned 
out.  Owing  to  thelack  of  a  sufficient  quantity  of  book  type, 
the  February  issue  was  printed  almost  entirely  in  bour- 
geois, and  poorly  at  that,  for  the  ink  refused  to  flow.  Seve- 
ral fonts  of  long-primer  camein  time  for  theMarch  number. 
Among  the  notable  contributions  to  the  Record  was  a 
series  of  articles  on  "The  First  Beginnings  of  St.  John's 
Abbey"  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Bruno  Riss,  O.  S.  B.,  one  of 
the  three  pioneer  Benedictines  of  Minnesota. 

The  St.  Boniface  Literary  Association  took  in  hand  the 
celebration  of  Washington's  birthday  and  presented  the 
German  comedy  "Trau,  Schau,  Wem,"  in  five  acts. 

As  early  as  March  28th  every  sign  of  ice  had  disappeared 
from  the  lake,  and  shortly  the  boating  clubs  fell  to  organi- 
zing. Some  improvements  had  been  made  in  the  environs 
of  the  campus:  there  was,  for  instance,  the  rustic  bridge 
over  the  narrow  entrance  to  Caesar's  Bay,  which  tempted 
a  poetaster  into  writing  a  parody  on  Longfellow's  well- 
known  poem. 

April  28  witnessed  a  base-ball  game  on  the  college  dia- 
mond between  the  University  and  the  St. Cloud  team:  "the 


92  St.    John's    University 

students  lost  the  game:  score,  7-15.  The  reporter  thinks 
the  wind  was  too  high  and  the  umpire's  dicta  arbitrary. 
Nevertheless  he  could  not  forbear  counselling  the  home 
team  to  do  a  little  more  practicing  and  a  little  less — (talk- 
ing, probably)  if  they  wished  to  invert  that  score." 

On  April  30  the  institution  celebrated  the  centennial  of 
President  Washington's  first  inauguration.  Many  visitors 
from  St.  Cloud  came  to  witness  the  exercises.  The  drama- 
tic society  presented  the  play  "Under  a  Cloud."  an  agree- 
able feature  of  the  program  was  a  vocal  solo  by  Mr.  George 
M.  Schutz,  85,  who  has  since  scored  many  artistic  triumphs 
between  Minnesota  and  the  Pacific  coast. 

May  day  was  almost  disfigured  by  an  attempt  at  a  snow- 
storm in  the  forenoon,  but  the  clouds  passed  away  and 
mild  sunshine  caressed  the  tiny  buds  on  trees  and  shrub. 
At  noon  arrived  His  Grace  Archbishop  John  Ireland,  of 
St.  Paul,  accompanied  by  his  secretary.  Rev.  John  Shan- 
ley,  '69.  Upon  invitation.  Archbishop  Ireland  addressed 
the  students  on  the  importance  of  study  as  a  preparation 
for  life.  It  ought  not  only  be  the  student's  aspiration  to 
become  a  learned  man  but  also  a  good  man.  He  encour- 
aged them  in  eloquent  and  earnest  words  to  come  to  the 
front  and  to  be  ready  as  Catholics  to  stand  in  the  first 
ranks  in  every  movement  for  the  good  of  society  and  reli- 
gion. Father  Shanley  fell  into  a  reminiscent  mood  and 
charmed  his  audience  by  his  humorous  and  graphic  pic- 
tures of  the  past  at  St.  John's. 

During  the  summer  the  lake  flotilla  was  increased  by  the 
addition  of  the  sailboat  "A.  O.  Gilman,"  which  was  capable 
of  carrying  from  15-20  persons.  It  had  been  the  property 
of  the  late  Dr.  Gilman  of  St.  Cloud  and  did  service  on  the 
college  lake  for  several  years.  It  was  a  favorite  excursion 
boat. 

On  June  2nd  the  fourteenth  anniversary  of  the  election 
of  Abbot  Alexius  was  celebrated.  The  main  feature  was 
an  entertainment  in  the  evening  by  the  St.  Boniface  L.  A. 


St.     John's    University  93 

supported  by  the  Band.  A  two  act  comedy:  "Three  Thou- 
sand Marks"  was  thoroughly  enjoyed  and  Mr.  A.  L.  Mc- 
Nulty  delivered  an  address  of  congratulation  to  which  the 
Rt.  Rev.  President  responded.  It  was  his  last  address  to 
the  students  of  St.  John's. 

Oq  June  13th  the  Rt.  Rev,  Abbot,  accompanied  by  the 
Rev.  Vice  President,  P.  Chrysostom,  left  St.  John's  for 
Europe.  P.  Alexius  Hoffmann  was  appointed  to  fill  the 
office  of  vice  president  temporarily.  The  remaining  days 
of  the  schoolyear  were  very  unpleasant.  Two  of  the 
students  who  were  recovering  from  an  attack  of  the  meas- 
les suffered  a  relapse;  early  in  the  morning  of  June  14 
one  of  them,  George  L.  Hutchins,  of  Kingston,  Minn, 
died,  and  at  8  oclock  in  the  evening  of  June  15th  Leo  Dit- 
ter,  of  Ditter  P.  O.  Minn,  passed  away.  Closing  day  was 
almost  a  week  distant  but  upon  the  advice  of  physicians 
and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  there  were  no  other  cases  of 
sickness  in  the  college  at  the  time,  it  was  decided  to  close 
on  the  17th.  Accordingly  the  medals  and  premiums  were 
distributed  on  the  morning  of  that  day  and  the  students 
were  dismissed  in  the  afternoon. 

The  twenty-second  annual  catalogue  was  printed  by  the 
Record  press  and  cannot  be  said  to  represent  first  class 
workmanshii).  On  the  list  of  professors  were  20  names, 
besides  8  lecturers  on  Commercial  Law.  The  roll  of 
students  contained  24  names  of  seminarians,  and  185  in  all 
other  departments  —  total  209.  Eleven  gold  medals  and 
one  silver  medal  were  awarded,  20  graduates  received  the 
degree  of  M.  A. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The    Administration   of    Abbot    Bernard    Locnikar, 

1890-94. 


1889-90 


During  the  vacation  niotiths  the  few  students  whose 
privilege  it  was  to  remain  at  the  institution  were  not 
allowed  to  indulge  in  the  unprofitable  amusement  of  doing 
nothing,  but  were  set  to  work  a  few  hours  every  day  im- 
proving the  '-park",  as  the  peninsula  known  as  Boniface 
Point  came  to  be  called.  The  heavy  undergrowth  and 
shrubbery  was  cut  out,  roads  made,  the  bridge  repaired  and 
the  old  band-pavilion  that  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  exhibi- 
tion hall  removed  to  a  prominent  place  at  the  Point.  In 
this  way  the  playgrounds  were  extended  and  a  pleasant 
resort  created  for  those  who  relished  a  walk  in  the  shade 
of  the  summer  foliage. 

Students  ot  the  80's  will  remember  how  they  were  not 
only  roused  from  their  slumbers  by  the  brazen  sound  of  a 
large  hand-bell,  but  how  that  instrument  was  also  employed 
to  announce  study  time  and  give  the  signal  for  the  open- 
ing of  classes  and  other  exercises.  The  electric  age  had 
dawned  and  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times  a  set  of  electric 
call-bells  was  installed,  which  connected  the  Prefect's  desk 
with  every  part  of  the  vast  buildings. 

History  moved  on  smoothly  and  quietly;  classes  were 
organized,  the  literary  societieties  went  to  work  unusually 
early,  several  games  of  base  ball  were  played,  the  strumm- 


St.    John's    University  95 

ing  of  a  banjo  and  a  mandoline  were  added  to  the  varieties 
of  music  already  at  hand,  and  the  chemistry  class  vas  so 
enthusiastic  at  its  experiments  that  on  one  occasion  "the 
entire  building  from  turret  to  foundation  stone  was  filled 
with  the  consequences". 

Upon  the  erection  of  the  diocese  of  St.  Cloud  and  after 
the  resignation  of  the  late  Bishop  Seidenbush,  who  had 
presided  over  Northern  Minnesota  in  the  capacity  of  a 
Vicar  Apostolic,  Dr.  Otto  Zardetti  was  appointed  as  the 
first  incumbent  of  the  new  see.  He  received  the  episcopal 
consecration  at  the  venerable  Benedictine  monastery  of 
Einsiedeln,  in  Switzerland,  on  October  20.  (1889).  Towards 
the  end  of  November  he  arrived  in  St.  Cloud  and  was  the 
guest  of  St.  John's  on  Thanksgiving  day,  the  28th  of  that 
month.  For  this  purpose  the  interior  of  the  buildings  had 
been  profusely  decorated  and  no  pains  had  been  spared  to 
offer  the  new  prelate  a  reception  worthy  of  his  dignity. 
At  the  ecclesiastical  functions  on  Thanksgiving  day  he 
occupied  the  throne  in  the  sanctuary  and  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  services  he  delivered  a  brief  but  eloquent  address. 
He  also  assisted  at  the  musical  and  theatrical  performances 
which  had  been  prepared  to  grace  the  occasion.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  St.  Boniface  Literary  Association  presented  a 
five  act  drama,  entitled  "Kronen  und  Palmen".  Bishop 
Zardetti  never  lost  an  opportunity  during  the  four  years 
of  his  administration  of  the  see  of  St.  Cloud  to  visit  St. 
John's  on  festival  occasions  and  his  eloquent  addresses, 
which  revealed  a  rare  degree  of  scholarship,  never  failed  to 
impress  the  student  body. 

Shortly  before  Thanksgiving  day  Father  Chrysostom 
had  returned  from  his  European  trip  and  resumed  the 
duties  of  the  office  of  vice-president.  In  December  came 
the  news  of  the  resignation  of  Abbot  Alexius  Edelbrock, 
who  had  administered  a  burdensome  and  responsible  office 
fourteen  years.  About  a  month  later  death  removed  from 
the  scene  one  of  the  most  familiar  faces  at  the  institution, 


96  St.    John's    UNivERsirr 

—  Father  Ulric  Northman,  the  former  vice-president,  who- 
departed  this  life  after  a  brief  illness  on  Jan.  21,  1890, 
His  demise  was  deeply  regretted  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  many  expressions  of  sympathy  were  received  at  the 
institution.  For  a  little  more  than  two  decades  he  had 
without  interruption  been  connected  with  the  college  as  a 
teacher  of  music  and  other  branches  and  for  ten  years  had 
been  vice-president. 

An  attractive  feature  of  the  winter  evenings  was  a  series 
of  lectures  on  Rome,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  illus- 
trated by  stereopticon  views.  A  fine  lantern  was  pur- 
chased and  Father  Chrysostom,  who  had  just  returned 
from  a  visit  to  these  countries,  spoke  interestingly  of 
those  historic  places. 

Early  in  April  Father  Bernard  Locnikar,  then  pastor  of 
the  church  of  the  Assumption  in  St,  Paul,  was  elected 
vicar  of  the  monastic  chapter;  on  May  7.  following  he  was 
elected  abbot,  in  which  capacity  he  was  also  to  be  presi- 
dent of  the  University.  In  the  evening  of  the  day  of  his 
election,  the  students  prepared  an  enthusiastic  reception 
for  him  and  greeted  him  with  speeches  and  music.  The 
new  abbot  had  been  vice-president  of  the  college  during 
the  school-year  of  1873,  after  his  ordination  to  the  priest- 
hood had  been  promoted  to  several  monastic  offices,  in- 
cluding that  of  prior,  but,  owing  to  feeble  health,  had 
begged  to  be  relieved  and  assigned  work  in  the  mission. 
Since  1879  he  had  been  stationed  in  St.  Paul,  first  as  an 
assistant  and  since  1888  as  pastor.  The  approval  of  his 
election  was  received  from  Rome  on  Aug.  2.  and  on  the  27. 
of  the  same  month  he  was  solemnly  installed  as  the  third 
abbot  of  St.  John's.  Abbot  Bernard  was  a  holy  priest  and 
a  scholarly  gentleman,  whose  erudition  won  him  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  the  clergy  in  the  Northwest.  In 
the  administration  of  his  new  duties  his  connection  with 
student  affairs  was  necessarily  very  slight;  still  the  gentle- 
ness of  his  character  and  his  deep  piety  could  not  fail  to 


St.    John's    University  97 

impress  more  profoundly  than  eloquent  words. 

In  the  course  of  the  summer  a  number  of  improvements 
were  made:  new  bath  rooms  were  fitted  up,  extensive  and 
substantial  stabling  built.  During  summer  vacation  the 
"water  tower",  which  contains  a  steel  tank  with  a  capacity 
of  about  2800  bbls,  was  built  and  the  steeple  of  Stella 
Maris  chapel  repaired.  While  a  force  were  busily  at  work 
making  the  island  "a  thing  of  beauty  and  an  abode  of  de- 
light" a  very  sad  accident  happened.  On  the  3.  of  July, 
at  10  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  Fr.  Anselm  Bartholmy,  one 
of  the  prefects  of  the  Junior  department  lost  his  life  while 
carrying  sod  in  a  boat  to  the  island.  Owing  either  to  the 
weight  of  the  sod  or  to  some  unforeseen  leak  in  the  boat, it 
sank  and  Fr.  Anselm  was  drowned  The  body  was  re- 
covered next  day. 

The  closing  exercises  of  the  scholastic  year  were  of  the 
simplest  character  and  consisted  merely  of  the  award  of 
class  honors  and  a  brief  address  to  the  outgoing  class. 
Twelve  medals  were  awarded  and  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Accounts  conferred  on  24  graduates.  The  total  enroll- 
ment of  students  was  172 — 19  being  seminarians,  and  158 
in  all  other  departments. 

1890-91 

The  change  of  administration  caused  practically  do 
changes  in  the  faculty  of  the  University,  except  the 
reappointment  of  P.  Norbert  as  principal  of  the  Commer- 
cial department.  P.  Jerome,  the  late  principal,  was  as- 
signed missionary  work. 

For  several  years  the  lack  of  appropriate  astronomical 
instruments  had  been  severely  felt.  The  faculty  realized 
that  now  the  time  had  come  to  provide  the  class  with  a 
suitable  observatory  and  outfit.  In  the  fall  a  small  obser- 
vatory was  constructed  on  the  top  of  the  water  tower  and 
in  February,  1891,  a  telescope  was  installed.  It  was  an 
equatorial,  having  a  four    inch  achromatic  object  glass  of 


98  St.    Johns's    University 

rare  excellence.  The  mounting,  made  by  Fauth  &  Co ... 
Washington,.  D.  C,  was  provided  with  right  ascension  and 
declination  circles  graduated  into  degrees  and  minutes, 
with  verniers,  with  clamps  and  tangent  screws  for  slow 
motion.  A  driving-clock  was  connected  with  the  polar 
axis,  by  means  of  which  any  celestial  object  could  be  kept 
in  the  field  of  view  for  hours  without  any  attention  on  the 
part  of  the  observer.  Four  eye-pieces  of  different  magnify- 
ing powers  completed  the  outfit.  Time  proved  that  the- 
location  w?s  unsuitable  for  such  a  delicate  instrument;  but 
for  four  years  this  lofty  perch  remained  the  conning  tower 
of  the  local  astronomers  until  through  the  efforts  of  the 
present  abbot,  then  professor  of  astronomy,  the  present 
commodious  quarters  were  secured. 

On  Thanksgiving  day  Bishop Zardetti  honored  the  insti- 
tution with  his  presence  at  the  entertainment  which  was 
prepared  by  the  dramatic  and  musical  associations.  The 
play  performed  was  "The  Proscribed  Heir";  the  music  was 
unusually  good  and  Mr.  J.  C.  McCourt's  singing  was  highly 
appreciated.  We  may  mention  in  passing,  that  Mr. 
McCourt  subsequently  entered  the  holy  priesthood  and 
went  to  his  eternal  reward  in  Aug.  1905.  In  the  evening 
Bishop  Zardetti  delivered  a  scholarly  and  eloquent  address 
on  "The  Tokens  of  Providential  Agency  in  the  History  of 
the  United  States". 

That  was  a  comparatively  snowless  winter,  for  we  read 
that  on  the  18.  of  January  a  game  of  base  ball  was  played 
here  between  the  Silver  Crescents  and  the  Black  Diamonds, 
the  score  of  which  after  eight  innings  stood  even. 

A  few  days  later  Father  Chrysostom,  who  had  been 
Vice-President  of  the  University  since  spring  1885,  hav- 
ing recently  resigned  the  office,  left  for  the  East  to  assume 
charge  of  the  Bahama  mission,  which  had  been  entrusted 
to  the  Fathers  of  St.  John's  by  the  late  archbishop  Corri- 
gan  of  New  York.  With  all  his  wonted  energy  Father 
Chrysostom  took  this  difficult  task  in  hand  and  despite 


St.    John's    Univeesity  90 

•countless  discoTirasrements  bore  the  labors  and  hardships 
of  this  distant  and  humble  mission  with  great  patience. 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  vice-presidency  at  St.  John's  by 
P.  Alexius  Hoffmann.  Father  Chrysostom's  departure 
from  the  institution  elicited  many  expressions  of  regret 
from  his  many  friends.  He  did  not  forget  them,  however, 
but  gave  an  interesting  account  of  himself  and  of  the  con- 
ditions prevailing  in  his  new  field  of  labor  through  the 
columns  of  the  Record. 

On  February  20.  ruthless  death  took  away  in  the  flower 
of  his  youth  Fr.  Felix  Wolke,  prefect  of  the  Junior  depart- 
ment. He  had  been  waging  a  hopeless  battle  against  con- 
sumption for  two  months  and  expected  to  find  some  relief 
in  a  change  of  scene.  He  had  been  permitted  to  visit  his 
parent  at  Pierz,  and  there  it  was  the  final  summons  came. 

Washington's  Birthday  came  and  went;  the  celebration 
was  not  as  brilliant  as  in  former  years.  St.  Patrick's  day 
witnessed  the  time-honored  parade  around  the  "beat".  On 
April  19.  the  cream  of  the  home  talent  gave  a  musicale, 
the  programme  of  which  displayed  a  charming  variety  of 
selections,  including  a  sextet  for  citherns  and  violins. 
Among  the  visitors  on  this  occasion  was  the  Rev.  Alexan- 
der Christie,  since  1899  archbishop  of  Oregon  City,  who 
addressed  the  students  on  the  importance  of  a  thorough 
Christian  elementary  education. 

Shortly  before  the  close  of  the  school  term  Mr,  F.  E. 
Searle  lectured  to  the  Commercial  class  on  Free  Coinage, 
treating  his  subject  without  reference  to  political  views 
and  offering  throughout  an  impartial  statement  or  facts 
and  figures  to  show  the  disadvantages  of  free  coinage  of 
silver. 

On  commencement  day,  June  24,  twelve  medals  were 
awarded,  and  the  degree  of  Master  of  Accounts  was  con- 
ferred on  38  graduates.  The  total  enrollment  was  198 — 18 
in  the  seminary  and  180  in  all  other  departments. 


100  St.     John's    University 

1891-92 

Among  the  improvements  made  for  the  new  school-year 
was  a  renovation  of  the  play-]\all  in  the  basement.  A  new 
bowling-alley  was  fitted  up,  also  a  pool  table,  horizontal 
bar,  chest  weights,  striking  bag,  Indian  clubs  and  dumb 
bells  were  provided.  The  quarters  were  close  and  gloomy, 
and  oil  lamps  lit  up  the  place  in  the  evening.  Still  it  was 
a  step  towards  a  gymnasium,  an  ideal  which  was  realized 
ten  years  later. 

Much  regret  and  surprise  was  caused  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  P.  Xavier  White  from  the  staff  during  vacation.  He 
had  been  a  professor  of  the  higher  English  and  mathema- 
tical classes  since  1876,  but  was  now^  beginning  to  feel  the 
advance  of  old  age  and  the  pressure  of  infirmities  as  the 
result  of  years  of  missionary  labor  both  before  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Benedictine  Order  and  since  that  time. 
In  course  of  the  summer  he  went  East  with  the  intention 
of  giving  such  aid  as  he  could  in  the  establishment  of  a 
parish  in  New  York  city.  ''His  spirits  kept  up  for  a  very 
short  time",  says  the  Record  (IV,  215)  "when  illness  com- 
pelled him  to  resort  to  St.  Francis  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Here 
the  physicians  pronounced  his  ailment  cancer  of  the 
stomach."  Feeling  that  he  was  doomed  he  resolved  to 
hasten  back  to  Minnesota,  in  order  that  he  might  die  in 
the  midst  of  his  brethren  at  the  monastery.  It  was  while 
at  Tonawanda,  N.  Y.,  where  he  paid  a  short  visit  to  his 
sister,  that  death  overtook  him  on  September  26.  He  was 
interred  by  the  Benedictine  Fathers  of  St.  Mary's  Abbey 
at  Newark,  N.  J. 

On  November  1.  the  death  of  P.  Meinrad  Rettenmaier 
occurred  at  Duluth.  He  was  connected  with  the  Univer- 
sity as  a  professor  for  a  short  time  in  1883  and  1884,  and 
for  several  years  was  superintendent  of  the  Industrial 
school,  which  was  established  at  St.  John's  for  Chippewa 
Indian  boys  in  1885. 


St.    John's    University  101 

An  eclipse  of  the  moon  in  November  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  class  in  astronomy.  A  meagre  report  of  the 
phenomenon  strayed  into  the  columns  of  the  Record  and 
since  it  is  the  first  report  of  its  kind,  we  reprint  it  in  its 
entirety:  "The  conditions  for  observing  the  lunar  eclipse 
of  Nov.  15  were  very  unfavorable.  A  heavy  snowstorm 
prevailed  during  the  whole  day,  to  the  great  dismay  of  our 
local  astronomers.  During  supper,  however,  the  sky  be- 
came clear,  and  for  nearly  an  hoar  Luna  showed  her 
darkened  countenance  to  the  anxious  observers,  until  it 
was  again  veiled  by  accumulating  clouds.  Some  interest- 
ing observations  were  made,  which  are,  however,  not  of 
sufficient  importance  to  the  general  reader  to  warrant  their 
publication  in  these  columns."'     (IV.  238) 

The  most  notable  event  of  the  winter  was  the  installment 
of  a  large  pipe  organ  in  the  abbey  church.  The  instru- 
ment was  built  by  W.  Schuelke,  of  Milwaukee,  and  cost 
about  $3000.  Its  outer  case  is  made  of  polished  oak  with 
handsome  panels  and  carving.  The  key  action  desk  is  lo- 
cated at  some  distance  from  the  organ,  allowing  the  organ- 
ist to  face  the  altar.  It  has  two  manuals  of  58  keys  each, 
and  a  pedal  of  27  keys.  The  motive  power  of  the  bellows 
is  furnished  by  a  Tuerk  water  moter  which  may  be  regu- 
lated by  a  spindle  operated  at  the  key  desk.  The  dedica- 
tory services  were  held  on  December  15.  and  were  attended 
by  the  Bishop  of  St.  Cloud  and  a  number  of  clergymen 
and  prominent  organists. 

On  Jan.  12,  1892,  the  students  arranged  a  reception  for 
the  Most  Rev.  William  H.  Gross,  archbishop  of  Oregon 
City,  who  visited  the  institution  accompanied  by  his  bro- 
ther, the  late  Rev.  Mark  Gross,  and  Rev.  Edward  J,  O'Dea, 
the  present  bishop  of  Nesqually,  Washington.  A  few 
pleasant  hours  were  spent  in  listening  to  choice  music  and 
the  charming,  genial  eloquence  of  the  archbishop. 

In  the  way  of  entertainments  the  year  was  a  busy  one. 
Aside  from  the  reception   already   mentioned,    the   newly 


102  St.    John's    University 

organized  Thespian  club  produced  "The  Wags  of  Wind- 
sor" on  Dec.  22,  1891,  "Falsely  Accused"  on  Washington's 
Birthday  and  March  8:  "Waiting  for  the  Train"  on  Decor- 
ation Day,  and  "The  Dutch  Recruit"  on  Commencement 
day.  The  St.  Boniface  L.  A.  performed  "The  Strike"  on 
xMay  9.  and  "Der  dicke  Bildschnitzer"  on  June  6, 

This  commencement  was  called  the  25th  annual  com- 
mencement, as  it  was  customary  to  count  from  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  college  on  its  present  site  in  1867.  Hence 
the  catalogue  of  that  year  was  made  especially  attractive; 
it  was  printed  on  suioerior  pai)er  and  embellished  with 
several  half-tone  engravings.  In  addition  to  the  usual 
information,  there  was  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  the 
institution  since  1867,  together  with  a  list  of  all  the  grad- 
uates and  professors  during  those  twenty-five  years.  The 
whole  number  of  professors  was  106;  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
had  been  conferred  on  3  candidates,  that  of  Ph.  D.  on  2, 
that  of  A.  M.  on  4,  that  of  Ph.  B.  on  24,  that  on  A.  B.  on 
24,  and  that  of  M.  A.  on  366.  For  the  year  1892  the  total 
enrollment  was  251 — 33  seminarians  and  218  in  all  other  de- 
partments. Eleven  medals  were  awarded;  the  degree  of 
Ph.  B.  was  conferred  on  5,  that  of  A.  B.  on  3  and  that  of 
M.  A.  on  32  graduates. 

1892-93 

The  vacation  crew  took  up  the  work  of  beautifying  the 
surroundings.  A  canal  was  dug  between  Boniface  bay 
and  Caesar's  lake,  the  road  around  the  "beat"  was  extend- 
ed southward  to  the  lake  shore  and  then  around  the  lake 
to  the  chapel  island.  Two  rustic  bridges  were  built  over 
the  swamps  on  the  other  side  and  made  the  chapel  acces- 
sible afoot. 

The  attendance  during  the  first  month  was  150,  a  very 
encouraging  figure  for  the  Columbian  year,  and  by  all  ac- 
counts it  was  a  live  attendance  at  both  work  and  play. 

In  the  Record  (V,  191)  we  read:  "Through  the  efforts 
of  our  professor  of  physics,   Father  Peter,   a   Voluntary 


St.    John's    University  10^1 

MeteoroloGjical  Station  in  connection  with  the  U.  S.  Signal 
Service  will  be  located  here.  Most  of  the  necessary  in- 
straments,  such  as  the  barometer,  anemometer  with  elec- 
trical recording  attachment,  exposure,  maximum  and  min- 
imum thermometer,  hygrometer,  rain  gauge  etc.  have 
already  arrived  and  will  be  placed  in  the  cupola  of  the 
main  building  where  daily  observations  will  be  recorded 
and  forwarded  to  the  Weather  Bureau  at  Minneapolis. 
Arrangements  will  be  completed  in  the  early  part  of  Oc- 
tober." Just  four- hundred  years  after  the  discovery  of 
America,  on  October  12,  1892,  the  Station  was  opened  and 
has  kept  a  faithful  record  of  the  weather  ever  since. 

Both  of  the  Columbian  days,  the  12th  and  the  21st, 
were  appropriately  observed.  Bishop  Zardetti  had  direct- 
ed that  the  religious  services  on  the  21st  "consist  of  High 
Mass  of  Thanksgiving  in  honor  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  with 
the  Te  Deum  and  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament". 
Accordingly  the  Right  Rev.  Abbot  officiated  at  pontifical 
High  Mass  in  the  forenoon,  while  the  afternoon  was  de- 
voted to  an  entertainment  at  which  the  members  of  the 
St.  Boniface  L.  A.  presented  a  historical  drama  in  five 
acts,  entitled  "Columbus". 

Among  the  visitors  in  November  was  Bishop  McGol- 
rick  of  Duluth,  who  was  accorded  a  unique  reception.  An 
amateur  campaign  marching  club,  which  had  played  a 
noisy  but  unimportant  part  in  the  presidential  campaign 
just  closed,  rallied  some  80  strong  and  held  a  torchlight 
procession  in  honor  of  the  distinguished  guest.  After  the 
parade  the  Bishop  addressed  the  student  in  the  exhibition 
hall. 

Stray  notes  from  the  local  reporter's  scrap  book  are 
to  the  effect  that  in  course  of  the  scholastic  year  five  new 
Remington  typewriting  machines  were  purchased  to  meet 
the  increasing  popularity  of  that  branch  of  study;  also 
that  a  class  in  Civics  was  organized  and  that  the  museum 
was  slowly  but  surely  growing. 


104  St.    John's    University 

On  March  28.  Abbot  Bernard  departed  for  Rome  to  at 
tend  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone  for  the  new  Benedictine 
college  of  San  Anselmo.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  he  would 
have  an  audience  with  ihe  Holy  Father,  the  students  pre- 
pared an  album  containing  congratulatory  addresses  in 
nine  languages,  viz.;  Latin  Italian,  French,  English,  Ger- 
man, Polish,  Bohemian,  Slavonian  and  Chippewa.  At- 
tached were  the  signatures  of  all  the  students  and  of  the 
faculty.  A  modest  reception  was  arranged  for  the  Right 
Rev.  Abbot  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  when  the  album 
was  handed  to  him.  He  did  not  return  until  the  latter 
part  of  July. 

Needless  to  say  the  literary  and  dramatic  societies  con- 
tributed their  share  toward  keeping  up  the  spirits  through- 
out the  year.  The  Thespians  presented  programs  on 
October  12th,  Thanksgiving  day,  and  Washington's  Birth- 
day, while  the  St.  Boniface  L.  A.  held  the  boards  on 
October  21  in  the  play  already  mentioned,  and  on  March 
7.  produced  that  grand  and  impressive  drama,  "Sir  Thomas 
More",  echoes  of  which  have  come  down  to  our  day.  An 
unusual  degree  of  interest  was  displayed  in  music,  both 
vocal  and  instrumental.  Besides  the  orchestra  of  18 
pieces  there  was  a  brass  band  of  24  pieces  and  a  new  or- 
chestra club  under  the  leadership  of  John  Rodenkirchen, 
who  has  for  several  years  past  been  prominent  in  musical 
circles  in  our  State.  There  was  also  a  vocal  club  called 
the  "Liederkranz". 

On  commencement  day  eleven  medals  were  awarded;  the 
degree  of  Ph.  B.  was  conferred  on  one  graduate  and  that 
of  M.  A.  on  24.  The  total  enrollment  this  year  was  272— 
34  seminarians  and  238  in  all  other  departments. 

1893-94 

During  the  months  of  July  and  August  a  force  of 
painters  were  engaged  to  paint  and  grain  the  wood  work 
in  the  college  buildings,  and   to  decorate  the   exhibition 


RT.    REV.    BERNARD     LOCNIKAR,     O.    S.    B. 


LIBRARY 

Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.    John's    University  105 

hall.  At  the  same  time  the  old  stone- house,  which  was 
the  only  building  that  constituted  St.  John's  College  in 
1867,  was  torn  down,  owing  to  the  defective  condition  of 
its  walls.  It  was  never  replaced  by  any  other  structure, 
but  a  large  flower-bed  marks  its  site  at  the  south  end  of 
the  present  house.  "In  a  few  years",  says  the  Record  at 
this  time,  "the  pioneer  student  who  recollects  the  day 
when  the  brass  band  played  'Home,  Sweet  Home'  on  the 
cupola  of  the  edifice,  will  return  to  find  not  the  slightest 
trace  of  St.  John's  as  it  then  was,  save  the  majestic  forest, 
the  silvery  lake  whose  gentle  waves  lap  the  sandy  shores, 
and,  above  all,  the  cordial  welcome  and  hospitality  it  ever 
extends,  which  forms  the  ground  work  of  an  edifice  against 
which  the  tooth  of  time  is  powerless." 

In  compliance  with  the  wish  of  Pope  Leo  XIII,  that 
the  new  college  of  San  Anselmo  be  a  central  university 
for  the  entire  Order  and  that  its  students  should  be  re- 
cruited from  all  the  Benedictine  monasteries,  Fr.  Michael 
Ott  was  selected  to  represent  St.  John's.  He  left  for 
Rome  in  the  fall  and  entered  upon  an  advanced  course  in 
Philosophy,  from  which  he  graduated  two  years  later. 
About  the  same  time,  Fr.  Otto  Weisser  was  sent  to  Ratis- 
bon  for  a  higher  course  in  Music. 

After  presiding  over  the  diocese  of  St.  Cloud  for  four 
and  one-half  years.  Bishop  Zardetti  was  created  arch- 
bishop of  Bucharest  in  Rou mania.  He  paid  his  farewell 
visit  to  St.  John's  on  April  24,  1894,  on  which  occasion  a 
reception  was  tendered  him.  Although  he  expressed  the 
fervent  hope  that  he  might  find  an  opportunity  to  revisit 
the  West  within  no  very  distant  period  of  time,  it  was  not 
to  be.  He  resigned  the  see  of  Bucharest  about  three  years 
later  and  retired  to  Rome,  where  he  died  May  10,  1902. 

Among  the  improvements  of  this  year  may  be  mentioned 
the  installment  of  a  private  telephone  line  in  the  build- 
ings, and  of  a  telegraph  office,  concerning  which  the  Record 
says:    "  The  line  runs  from  the  University  to  Collegeville, 


106  St.    John's    University 

thence  along  the  railroad  track  and  on  the  telegraph  com- 
pany's poles  to  St.  Joseph  depot.  A  set  of  new  instruments 
has  been  installed  in  an  ofl&ce  on  the  first  floor  of  the 
University.  Father  Agatho  is  in  charge  of  the  office.  The 
first  message  was  sent  over  the  new  line  on  June  6."  This 
line  did  service  for  many  years,  but  at  present  is  almost 
entirely  superseded  by  the  long-distance  telephone. 

Commencement  day,  June  21st,  was  made  memorable  by 
the  presence  of  the  Governor  of  the  State,  the  Hon.  Knute 
Nelson,  now  U.  S.  Senator.  It  was  the  first  time  the  in- 
stitution was  able  to  chronicle  such  an  event,  and  neither 
faculty  nor  students  spared  any  efforts  to  make  his  stay  as 
pleasant  as  possible.  At  the  closing  exercises  he  conferred 
the  medals  and  diplomas  and  delivered  a  brief  and  forc- 
ible address. 

On  the  rolls  were  the  names  of  234  students  -  37  sem- 
inarians and  197  in  all  other  departments.  Nine  medals 
were  awarded,  the  degree  of  Ph.B.  was  conferred  on  5  and 
that  of  M.  A.  on  35  graduates. 

Scarcely  had  the  echoes  of  the  school  year  died  away 
when  the  institution  was  visited  by  a  catastrophe,  the 
traces  of  which  will  remain  visible  for  a  number   of  years. 

"The  heat  had  been  oppressive  for  several  days.  A 
storm  was  expected  on  the  evening  of  the  26th  of  June, 
but  it  did  not  come.  On  the  27th  the  barometer  stood  at 
an  unusually  low  point.  Towards  evening  heavy  clouds 
drew  up  and  at  7:30  a  strong  rainstorm  came  on.  It  lasted 
for  about  15  minutes  and  was  followed  by  hail,  though 
only  for  a  minute.  Then  came  a  sullen  calm  for  a  few 
minutes,  the  current  of  air  from  the  northwest  met  that 
from  the  southeast  at  some  point  south  from  here,  and  a 
funnel-shaped  cloud  was  observed  moving  toward  us.  Sud- 
denly at  8:30  it  grew  dark,  the  winds  began  to  howl  and 
the  fatal  whirlwind  was  upon  us.  A  few  seconds  sufficed 
to  create  a  desolation  this  community  never  saw  on  its 
grounds.     The  air  was  filled  with  flying  timbers,  furniture, 


St.    John's    Univebsity  107 

limbs  of  trees  and  everything  the  wind  could  pick  np; 
windows  crashed,  doors  closed  violently  or  were  pressed 
open,  and  through  the  flashes  of  lightning  could  be  seen 
the  wreck  outside."  The  track  of  the  cyclone  lay  over  the 
lake;  it  first  unroofed  the  laundry  and  wrecked  the  adjoin- 
ing engine  room  and  smoke-stack.  The  main  buildings 
were  attacked  on  the  south-east  end,  which  was  occupied 
by  the  Industrial  School.  The  pupils  were  on  the  point 
of  retiring  for  the  night,  when  the  cyclone  set  in.  They 
were  hurried  out  of  their  dormitory  and  not  a  second  too 
soon,  for  just  as  the  last  pupil  stepped  into  the  middle 
building,  the  upper  floors  of  the  building  which  they  had 
left  were  carried  away.  The  roof  of  the  main  building 
was  slightly  damaged,  all  the  chimneys  blown  down,  the 
weather  station  was  wrecked  and  the  turret-cap  moved 
out  of  position.  The  engine-house  which  contains  the 
heating  plant  was  also  wrecked,  but  fortunately  the 
boilers  did  not  sustain  any  serious  damage;  the  roofs  were 
blown  from  all  the  out-buildings,  of  which  there  were 
about  ten.  The  new  brick  barn,  one  of  the  largest  and 
finest  in  the  State,  was  a  total  wreck,  with  exception  of 
the  stone  stabling  in  the  lower  floor. 

However  serious  the  disaster  appeared  to  be,  it  was  a 
source  of  great  satisfaction  that  not  a  single  human  life 
had  been  lost. 

Soon  masons  and  carpenters  were  at  work  repairing  the 
damage  and  before  vacation  was  past,  the  authorities  were 
able  to  announce  that  school  work  would  be  resumed  in 
September.  Few  scars  of  the  cyclone  are  visible  on  the 
buildings,  but  many  and  many  a  year  will  pass  before  the 
forest  trees  that  were  blown  down  that  evening  and  left 
the  surrounding  country  a  bleak  desert,  can  be  replaced. 
God  spare  us  from  another  such  a  visitation. 


CHAPTEK  V. 

The    Administration    of  Abbot    Peter  Engel    from 
1894  TO  THE  Present  Time. 


1894-95 


Of  those  who  were  at  St.  John's  during  the  cyclone,  no 
one  seems  to  have  been  so  deeply  affected  by  the  disaster 
as  Abbot  Bernard.  He  had  for  years  been  in  delicate 
health  and  the  shock  of  the  disaster  evidently  hastened 
the  ravages  of  disease.  After  the  new  school  year  was  well 
nnder  way,  he  set  out  uj)on  a  journey  of  visitation  to  the 
various  missions  in  charge  of  Fathers  of  the  Abbey.  To- 
wards the  end  of  October  he  broke  down  completely  and 
on  advice  of  his  physician  retired  to  Stillwater,  where  he 
received  kind  care  and  attention  in  the  rectory  of  St.  Ma- 
ry's church,  of  which  Eev.  Alphonse  Kuisle,  O.  S.  B.  was 
then  pastor.  He  never  recovered  from  his  ailment,  which 
proved  to  be  Bright's  disease,  and  on  November  7th  the 
wire  carried  the  sad  intelligence  to  the  abbey  that  he  was 
dead.  The  funeral  services  and  interment  took  place  at  the 
abbey  on  November  14th,  Abbot  Alexius  Edelbrock,  his 
predecessor,  oflSciating  as  celebrant. The  bishops  of  James- 
town, Sioux  Falls  and  Winona,  the  administrator  of  the 
vacant  see  of  St.  Cloud  and  four  abbots  assisted  at  the 
services.  Bishop  Shan  ley  of  Jamestown  delivered  the 
sermon,  in  the  course  of  which  he  paid  eloquent  tributes 
to  the  memory  of  the  deceased  as  a  priest,  monk  and  su- 
perior. 

Abbot  Bernard  was  born  in  the  province  of  Krain,  South- 

108 


St.    John's    University  109 

ern  Austria,  in  the  village  of  Bitnje,  of  poor  parents  Sep- 
tember 29,  184:8.  His  widowed  mother  lacked  the  means 
to  give  him  even  an  elementary  education,  but  a  priest  of 
his  acquaintance  furnished  him  an  opportunity  to  study  at 
the  gymnasium  of  Krainbuig  and  at  the  Aloysianum  of 
Laibach.  While  reading  of  the  labors  of  his  illustrious 
countrymen,  the  late  Bishop  Baraga  of  Sault  St.  Marie, 
and  Rev.  F.  Pierz,  among  the  Indians  of  Michigan,  Wis- 
consin and  Minnesota,  he  became  inflamed  with  a  desire 
of  going  there  and  spending  his  life  and  energies  in  the 
mission  among  the  Indians.  With  this  purpose  in  view 
he  left  his  native  soil  in  1868  with  his  mother  and  brother 
and  came  to  the  United  States.  The  terminus  of  their 
journey  was  Stearns  County  in  Minnesota.  Here,  while  his 
mother  and  brother  settled  on  a  smaU  farm  near  Albany, 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  Benedictine  Fathers  at 
St.  Louis  abbey  and  concluded  to  remain  with  them,  hop- 
ing that  in  course  of  time  he  might  be  able  to  carry  out 
his  original  resolve.  As  he  had  already  completed  an  ex- 
cellent classical  course,  he  was  at  once  sent  into  the  no- 
viciate of  the  Order  and  spent  the  following  three  years  in 
theological  studies.  On  December  22,  1872  he  was  ordain- 
ed a  priest;  he  had  been  appointed  vice-president  of  the 
college  in  November  (p.  40)  and  retained  this  office  to  the 
end  of  the  school  year.  During  the  next  seven  years  he 
attended  small  missions  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  abbey, 
was  also  sub-prior  of  the  monastery  from  1875-1877,  and 
prior  from  1877-1879.  Then,  as  has  already  been  stated, 
he  became  assistant  and  subsequently  rector  of  the  church 
of  theAssumption  in  St.  Paul,  where  he  remained  up  to 
the  time  of  his  election  to  the  abbatial  chair.  His  death 
was  deeply  regretted  and  lamented  not  only  by  his  brethren 
but  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  among  the  clergy  and  laity. 
Two  weeks  later,  on  November  28.  the  Fathers  of  the 
abbey  met  in  chapter  to  elect  a  successor  to  the  late 
Abbot.     The  choice  fell  upon   the   subprior   and  Director 


110  St.    John's    University 

of  Studies,  Very  Rev.  Peter  Engel.  Father  Peter,  by 
which  name  he  is  known  to  a  large  number  of  alumni,  was 
born  near  Port  Washington,  Wisconsin,  February  3,  1856, 
a  few  months  before  the  first  colony  of  Benedictines 
entered  Minnesota.  In  his  early  boyhood  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Minnesota  and  settled  at  St.  Michael's  in  Wright 
County,  and  the  future  abbot  was  sent  to  school  to  St. 
John's  College  in  1869.  While  pursuing  the  course  of 
studies,  he  felt  attracted  to  the  monastic  life  and  deter- 
mined to  become  a  Benedictine.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
noviciate  in  1874,  made  simple  profession  July  19,  1875 
and  was  ordained  a  priest  December  15,  1878.  On  Aug- 
ust 15th  of  the  following  year  he  was  appointed  sub-prior 
of  the  abbey  and  occupied  that  position  to  the  time  of  his 
election  as  Abbot.  Ever  since  1875  he  had  been  one  of 
busiest  professors  at  St.  John's,  his  specialties  being  phil- 
osophy and  the  natural  sciences.  In  addition  he  perform- 
ed the  duties  of  a  Director  of  Studies  since  1882  and  of  a 
Master  of  Novices  since  1887.  No  one  was  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  affairs  and  the  needs  of  such  a 
vast  institution  than  Abbot  Peter,  for  he  had  spent  two 
consecutive  decades  on  the  spot  and  had  been  intim- 
ately in  touch  with  the  work  of  both  the  monastery  and 
college.  The  election  was  ratified  by  Eome  and  the 
documents  arrived  at  the  abbey  towards  the  end  of  Jan- 
uary 1895.  His  solemn  benediction  and  installation  was 
postponed  to  the  summer  months,  but  he  entered  at  once 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

The  completion  of  the  new  observatory  during  the 
summer  had  been  prevented  by  the  unfortunate  cyclone. 
In  fall,  however,  work  was  resumed  and  within  a  month 
after  the  election  of  Abbot  Peter,  to  whose  efforts  the 
building  of  the  observatory  was  due,  the  instruments  were 
installed.  The  observatory  "crowns  the  hill  which  is 
about  200  yards  east  of  the  University  and  south  of  the 
road  leading  to   Collegeville.      The  top  of  the   revolving 


St.    John  s    University  111 

dome  is  32  feet  from  the  ground.  The  entrance  faces 
south  and  leads  to  the  computation  room;  its  dimensions 
are  10X13J  feet.  Adjoining  it  is  the  transit  instrument 
and  the  chronograph;  this  partis  9|^X12J  feet.  From  here 
we  enter  the  round  tower,  which  has  a  diameter  of  16  feet. 
In  the  center  rises  a  pier  of  masonry  to  the  height  of  19 
feet.  Altogether  independent  it  pierces  the  second  floor 
and  wears  a  cap  of  Kasota  stone  8  inches  thick,  to  which 
the  telescope  is  bolted."  {Record^  Jan.  1895.  2)  The 
structure  is  built  of  red  brick  and  the  revolving  dome  is 
of  tin.  Immediately  upon  its  completion  it  was  equipped 
with  appropriate  instruments  from  the  factory  of  G.  N. 
Saegmueller  &  Co.,  Washington  D.  C. 

In  February  1895  the  new  bishop  of  St.  Cloud,  Mgr. 
Martin  Marty,  O.  S.  B.  was  installed  in  office,  and  on 
March  21.  the  feast  of  St.  Benedict,  he  was  the  guest  of 
the  abbey,  where  he  officiated  at  pontifical  High  Mass 
in  accordance  with  the  tradition  established  by  Bishop 
Zardetti.  Bishop  Marty's  administration  covered  less 
than  two  years  and  yet  within  that  time  he  favored  the 
institution  with  many  visits. 

On  May  25.  1895  P.  Paul  Rettenmaier  O.  S.  B.,  profess- 
or of  philosophy  and  other  branches  from  1872-77,  died  at 
Arlington,  Minn.,  where  he  was  temporarily  stationed  as 
rector.  He  was  born  in  Wuerttemberg  in  1853,  made  vows 
as  a  Benedictine  1871  and  was  ordained  a  priest  Decem- 
ber 25,  1875.  With  exception  of  the  five  years  mentioned 
above,  he  was  engaged  in  pastoral  work  in  Minnesota  and 
North  Dakota.  He  was  a  man  of  keen  mind,  bright  in- 
telligence and  very  enthusiastic  in  every  work  he  took  in 
hand.  His  principal  regret  was  that  ill  health  defeated 
all  his  best  intentions,  especially  during  the  latter  part  of 
his  life.  His  younger  brother,  P.  Meinrad,  died  four 
years  before  (p.  100). 

Nine  days  later,  June  3,  the  venerable  Bishop  Rupert 
Seidenbusch,  who  had  presided  over  St.  John's  as  its  first 


112  St.    John's    University 

abbot  from  1867-1875,  breathed  his  last  in  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, while  on  his  way  to  Minnesota  from  Savannah,  Ga. 
where  he  had  spent  the  preceding  winter.  His  remains 
were  brought  to  St.  John's  and  interred  in  the  abbey  cem- 
etery on  June  11th.  Bishop  Rupert  Seidenbusch  was 
born  in  Munich,  the  capital  of  Bavaria,  October  13.  1830, 
studied  in  the  schools  of  his  native  country  till  1850  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States  and  entered  the  Benedictine 
order  at  St.  Vincent's  abbey.  He  was  ordained  a  priest 
June  22,  1853,  served  several  years  in  the  mission  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey  and  was  prior  of  St.  Vincent's 
from  1862-1867,  which  position  he  held  when  he  was 
chosen  first  abbot  of  St.  Louis  on  the  Lake.  After  govern- 
ing the  abbey  eight  years  he  was  appointed  Vicar  Apos- 
tolic of  Northern  Minnesota.  For  thirteen  years  he  con- 
tinued to  administer  this  difficult  office,  when  increasing 
infirmities  compelled  him  to  resign  in  November  1888. 
He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  retirement  from 
active  duties  and  usually  sought  relief  during  the  winter 
months  in  Los  Angeles  or  Savannah.  Few  tributes  to  his 
memory  were  as  striking  as  that  in  the  Ave  Maria  (Notre 
Dame  Ind.):  "The  late  Bishop  Seidenbusch,  O.  S.  B. 
was  another  of  those  silent  workers  whose  selfless  lives 
have  helped  to  upbuild  the  Church  in  America.  Twenty 
years  ago  he  was  called  from  the  quiet  Benedictine  Abbey 
to  organize  a  new  vicariate  in  Northern  Minnesota  over 
which  he  presided  with  singular  success  until  the  erection 
of  the  see  of  St.  Cloud.  The  pioneer  work  had  then  been 
done,  but  Bishop  Seidenbusch  was  broken  in  health  and 
he  willingly  laid  down  the  episcopal  burden  to  labor  not 
less  devotedly  in  a  humbler  capacity.  His  life  was  as 
edifying  as  it  was  full  of  great  deeds  for  the  Church  and 
he  was  especially  devout  to  the  Blessed  Virgin." 

Apart  from  the  inauguration  of  the  observatory  no 
prominent  event  in  the  development  of  the  college  is  to 
be  chronicled  for  this  year.      Abbot   Peter  continued  to 


RT.   REV.   PETER    ENGEL,   O.  S. 


OF   IHt 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.    John's    University  113 

act  as  Director  of  Studies  even  after  his  election  and  to 
the  end  of  the  schoolyear.  P.  Oswald  Baran  had  been  ap- 
pointed Principal  of  the  Commercial  Department  in  the 
fall  of  1894.  The  dramatic  societies  exhibited  very  few- 
plays,  the  principal  of  which  was  "Garcia  Morenos  Tod." 
which  was  played  by  members  of  the  St.  Boniface  L.  A. 
to  commemorate  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  its  foun- 
dation. The  total  number  of  students  enrolled  was  only 
223;  36  seminarians  and  187  in  all  other  departments.  On 
commencement  day,  June  20th,  the  degree  of  B.  A.  was 
conferred  on  2  candidates,  that  of  Ph.  B.  on  5.  and  that  of 
M.  A.  on  25.     Nine  gold  medals  were  awarded. 

On  July  10th  a  great  meeting  of  the  Alumni  was  held 
and  on  the  11th  Abbot  Peter  Engel  was  solemnly  installed 
in  office  by  the  ordinary  of  the  diocese,  Bishop  Marty,  in 
presence  of  the  Archbishop  of  St.  Paul,  Most  Rev.  J. 
Ireland,  Bishops  McGolrick  of  Duluth,  Shanley  of  James- 
town, Fink  O.  S.  B.  of  Kansas  City,  Kas.  and  Haid  O.  S. 
B.  Vicar  Apostolic  of  North  Carolina,  four  abbots  and  a 
great  number  of  secular  and  regular  clergymen. 

1895-96 

In  the  second  year  of  his  administration,  Abbot  Bernard 
had  resolved  to  extend  the  activity  of  the  Benedictine 
order  to  the  Pacific  coast  in  response  to  an  invitation  from 
the  late  Bishop  Junger  of  Nesqaally,  Washington.  Prop- 
erty was  purchased  in  Thurston  County,  Washington, 
about  4  miles  east  of  Olympia  and  29  miles  from  Tacoma 
for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  monastery  and  college. 
Here  an  elegant  frame  structure,  100  feet  long  and  60  feet 
wide,  four  stories  high,  was  built  and  ready  for  occupancy 
late  in  the  summer  of  1895.  Fathers  William  Eversmann 
and  Wolfgang  Steinkogler  were  the  pioneers  in  this  west- 
ern mission;  they  were  joined  in  the  spring  of  1895  by  P. 
Demetrius  Juenemann,  and  when,  in  August  of  the  same 
year,  Abbot  Peter  paid  his  first  official  visit  to  the  young 


114  St.    John^s    University 

foundation,  he  took  with  him  P.  Oswald  Baran,  whom  he 
appointed  Director  of  St.  Martin's  College,  as  the  new 
institution  was  named.  In  September  followed  Fr.  Bene- 
dict Schmit  and  three  lay  brothers,  among  whom  was  Bro, 
William  who  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  had  presided  over 
the  kitchen  at  St.  John's.  The  College  was  opened  in 
September  to  a  small  class  which,  however,  has  been  con- 
stantly growing  until  now  it  has  crept  far  above  the 
hundred  mark.  At  later  periods  Fathers  Matthew  Britt? 
Justin  Welz,  Adolph  Dingmann,  Mark  Wiechmann  and 
Ulric  Scheffold  joined  the  faculty.  Even  the  venerable 
pioneer  of  St.  John's,  P.  Cornelius  Wittmann,  in  1896 
volunteered  to  go  West  and  devote  the  rest  of  his  life  to 
another  pioneer  task.  Nine  years  later,  however,  having 
almost  completely  lost  his  eyesight,  he  returned  to  St. 
John's,  where  if  Heaven  grant  him  respite  he  will  be  able 
to  greet  the  alumni  of  1857  at  the  jubilee  celebration.  — 
St.  Martin's  developed  so  rapidly  that  in  the  winter  of 
1903  arrangements  were  made  to  organize  the  community 
as  an  independent  priory.  On  March  9.  1904,  P.  Dem- 
etrius Juenemann  was  elected  the  first  canonical  prior  of 
St.  Martin's  and  duly  confirmed  by  the  Holy  See. 

At  St.  John's,  P.  Oswald  was  replaced  as  Principal  of 
the  Commercial  Department  by  P.  Norbert  Hofbauer, 
Having  completed  an  advanced  course  in  philosophy  in 
Rome  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philos- 
ophy, P.  Michael  Ott  returned  from  Rome  in  September 
and  was  appointed  Prefect  of  Studies,  which  position  he 
still  occupies.  In  October  of  the  same  year  Fr.  Bruno 
Doerfler  was  sent  to  Rome  to  pursue  advanced  courses  at 
the  college  of  San  Anselmo. 

Work  during  the  second  term  was  seriously  hampered 
by  a  siege  of  diphtheria  which  began  in  March  and  lasted 
to  the  end  of  April.  None  of  the  cases,  which  exceeded 
fourscore  in  number  (including  the  pupils  of  the  Indus- 
trial school),  proved  fatal.     Classes  were  not,  however,   in- 


St.    John's    Univebsity  115 

interrupted,  even  for  a  single  day  and  those  who  were 
not  afflicted,  adapted  themselves  to  the  situation  stoically 
while  the  quarantine  lasted.  For  the  closing  event,  a 
play  was  again  resorted  to;  the  dramatic  societies  selected 
the  Shakespearian  comedy  "The  Merchant  of  Venice",  in 
an  adapted  form,  and  played  it  fairly  wellon  the  eve  of  com- 
mencement day.  The  closing  exercises  were  held  on  June 
24th,  the  Bishop  of  St.  Cloud  presiding  for  the  last  time- 
(He  died  September  19th,  1896).  Nine  gold  medals  were 
awarded;  the  degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  2  candi- 
dates; that  of  Ph.  B,  on  5;  that  of  B.  A.  on  3  and  that  of 
M.  A.  on  33.  The  total  enrollment  was  227,  of  which 
number  45  were  seminarians  and  182  in  all  other  depart- 
ments, 

1896-97. 

The  Industrial  school  for  Indian  boys  established  in 
January  1885  was  discontinued  in  June  1896  and  the 
building  occupied  by  the  pupils  became  available  for 
other  purposes.  The  first  floor  of  the  building,  the  south- 
ern wing,  which  was  damaged  by  the  cyclone,  was  convert- 
ed into  shops  and  store-rooms,  the  second  floor  was  the 
temporary  quarters  of  the  abbey  library,  while  the  third 
floor  was  devoted  to  the  museum  and  physicial  cabinet' 
Numerous  generous  donors  had  for  years  past  presented 
curious  and  valuable  specimens  of  every  description,  which 
for  lack  of  proper  space  could  not  be  displayed  to  advan- 
tage. 

Among  other  improvements  may  be  noted  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  reading  room  in  connection  with  the  students, 
library,  in  its  present  quarters.  The  circulating  library 
which  at  that  time  contained  about  2000  bound  volumes, 
among  them  many  valuable  reference  works,  was  hence- 
forth daily  at  the  disposal  of  those  students  who  were  am- 
bitious to  avail  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  sup- 
plement their  course  of  study  by  judicious  reading.   Short- 


116  St.    John's    University 

ly,  magazines  and  newspajjers  were  added  to  the  equipment. 

Pleasant  occasions  for  the  students  of  '97  were  the  visit 
of  Bishop  Shanley  on  September  29th  and  of  Archbishop 
Gross  on  Thanksgiving  day.  In  the  lecture  course  the 
most  notable  numbers  were  the  lectures  by  Judge  L.  W. 
Collins  and  Mr.  J.  D  Sullivan,  then  county  attorney  of 
Stearns  county. 

Hitherto  the  twin  church  towers  had  harbored  but  one 
bell;  in  the  spring  of  1897  a  chime  of  five  bells  was  cast 
by  Gardiner  Campbell  &  Sons,  Milwaukee,  under  super- 
vision of  Prof.  John  Singenberger.  They  range  in  weight 
from  6150  to  1900  lbs,  and  are  tuned  to  A,  B,  D,  E,  and  F- 
sharp  respectively.  On  May  12  Abbot  Peter  consecrated 
the  chime;  three  days  later  its  harmonions  tongues  pealed 
forth  upon  the  evening  air  a  song  as  full  and  sweet  as 
these  solitudes  had  never  heard  before. 

One  of  first  offices  of  the  chime  was  to  lament  the  death 
of  one  of  the  ancient  figures  in  the  history  of  St.  John's. 
On  May  19  Brother  Thaddeus  Hoormaon  —  Bro.  "Taddy" 
he  was  familiarly  called  —  closed  his  eyes  in  death  after 
a  life  of  almost  fifty  years  spent  in  religion  as  a  humble 
lay  brother.  For  nearly  thirty  years  his  slow,  lumbering 
conveyance  had  carried  many  a  student  or  visitor  from 
and  to  the  railroad  station,  even  before  there  was  a  rail- 
road station  at  St.  Cloud ;  nor  did  rain  or  shine  either 
alter  his  schedule  or  the  evenness  of  his  temper.  When 
advancing  years  incapacitated  him  for  the  service,  he  was 
sent  to  the  monastery  farm  at  West  Union.  The  last  days 
of  his  long  life  were  spent  at  the  Abbey.  May  his  memory 
never  perish. 

A  month  after  the  installation  of  the  bells,  the  great 
clock  was  put  in  position  in  the  south  tower  of  the  church. 
Its  mechanism  operates  the  hands  on  the  eight  large 
dials  —  four  in  each  tower  —  and  connects  with  the  chime 
which  strikes  the  quarters  and  full  hours  by  day  and  night 
in  all  seasons. 


St.    John's    University  117 

One  of  the  last  academic  events  was  the  oratorical  contest 
on  June  13th  for  a  medal  to  be  awarded  in  elocution. 
Only  the  board  of  judges,  members  of  the  faculty  select- 
ed for  the  occasion,  witnessed  the  struggle  which  lasted 
two  hours  and  for  which  there  were  eight  entries. 

Commencement  day  was  celebrated  very  quietly:  no 
elaborate  programme  had  been  prepared.  On  June  24th 
the  usual  award  or  prizes  took  place  and  before  that  day's 
sun  had  set,  the  class  had  scattered  in  all  directions.  On 
the  list  of  the  faculty  were  the  names  of  82  professors, 
besides  three  lecturers :  the  total  enrollment  of  students 
was  227, — of  which  39  were  seminarians  and  188  students 
of  all  other  departments.  The  degree  of  Ph.  B,  was  con- 
ferred on  one  candidate,  that  of  M.  A.  on  34  graduates  of 
the  commercial  course.     Eleven  medals  were  awarded. 

1897—1898 

These  annals  now  have  arrived  within  a  decade  of  the 
present  time.  The  closer  the  chronicler  approaches  the 
present,  the  more  embarrassed  is  he  in  his  choice  of  ma- 
terial from  the  numerous  sourcesat  his  disposal.  Hence  he 
will  confine  himself  to  the  principal  events,  leaving  to 
some  future  historian  the  task  of  narrating  the  story  of 
this  decade  in  greater  detail. 

Fr.  Alcuin  Deutsch  was  sent  to  the  college  of  San 
Anselmo  in  Rome  to  pursue  a  higher  course  in  Philosophy 
and  kindred  branches;  and  P.  Anselm  Ortmann  attended 
special  courses  at  Johns  Hopkins  University,  Baltimore. 
P.  Ulric  Scheffold  was  appointed  Principal  of  the  Com- 
mercial Department  as  successor  to  P.  Norbert,  who  now 
permanently  retired  from  this  department  with  which  he 
had  been  connected,  with  exception  of  a  few  years,  since 
its  establishment  in  1878. 

Repeatedly  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  with  the 
system  according  to  which  sports  were  conducted:  here 
and  there  a  voice  timidly  queried,  Why  not  start  something 


118  St.    John's    University 

like  an  Athletic  Association?  —  The  question  was  finally 
taken  up  and  an  organization  by  that  name  was  called  into 
being  during  the  second  term. 

On  October  16th  Bishop  James  Trobec,  the  successor  of 
the  late  Bishop  Marty  in  the  see  of  St.  Cloud,  paid  his 
first  visit  as  a  bishop  to  St.  John's  and  was  accorded  a 
reception.  The  students  and  members  of  the  community 
formed  a  procession  which  escorted  his  carriage  from  the 
observatory  to  the  abbey  church  where  he  was  received 
according  to  the  ceremonial.  On  the  following  day,  which 
was  the  anniversary  of  the  consecration  of  the  church,  he 
officiated  at  solemn  pontifical  High  Mass  and  on  the  next 
day,  the  18th,  for  the  first  time  held  ordinations  here. 

The  best  stage  production  of  the  year  was  Shake- 
speare's "Julius  Caesar",  which  was  played  on  Washing- 
ton's Birthday  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Lawrence  J. 
Vaughan,  whose  acquaintance  with  the  stage  eminently 
qualified  him  to  produce  something  worthy  of  notice.  Mr. 
Vaughan  himself  played  the  role  of  Mark  Antony.  We 
may  observe  in  passing  that  since  his  ordination  Mr. 
Vaughan  has  gained  the  reputation  of  being  a  scholarly  and 
convincing  orator  and  lecturer  in  various  parts  of  this 
country  and  Canada. 

During  the  summer  work  was  begun  at  decorating  the 
church:  the  work  was  designed  and  executed  by  Mr.  Geo. 
F.  Satory  of  Winona,  Minn. 

On  three  evenings  in  June  the  University  Band  gave 
open  air  concerts  on  the  lawn  before  the  main  building. 
During  the  same  month  Mr.  John  P.  Winter,  '95,  a  grad- 
uate of  the  commercial  course  and  just  on  the  threshold 
of  his  career  as  an  attorney  at  law,  delivered  several  in- 
teresting lectures  on  topics  of  Commercial  Law. 

A  hot  week  of  examinations  followed — heat,  such  as  no 
class  of  students  ever  experienced  here.  All  kinds  of 
cooling  devices  were  used  in  vain  and  it  was  a  great  relief 
that  commencement  was  set  for  the   22nd.      On   that  day 


St.    John's    University  119 

Bishop  Trobec  celebrated  Holy  Mass  for  the  students  and 
administered  the  sacrament  of  Confirmation  to  a  class  of 
33.  At  9  o'clock  a.  m.  the  schoolyear  was  formally  closed 
with  the  distribution  of  prizes  and  award  of  degrees.  The 
diploma  of  M.  A.  was  conferred  on  42  graduates  of  the 
commercial  course  and  8  gold  medals  were  awarded.  The 
total  enrollment  for  the  year  was  259  —  of  which  number 
43  were  seminarians  and  216  in  all  other  departments. 

1898-99 

The  Seminary,  which  had  hitherto  been  under  the  im- 
mediate supervision  of  a  Prefect  now  received  a  Rector, 
the  first  to  hold  the  office  being  P.  Athanasius  Meyer. 
Then  as  now,  the  members  of  the  two  classes  in  philosophy 
as  well  as  the  students  of  theology  were  called  semin- 
arians. 

Little  by  little  the  electrical  era  began  to  manifest  its 
presence:  there  were  electric  bells,  electric  clocks,  the  tele- 
graph, the  telephone,  even  some  demonstrations  with  wire- 
less telegraphy  and  X-rays  had  been  made,  but  the  most 
substantial  accomplishment  was  the  introduction  of  elec- 
tric light.  Owing  to  the  isolated  location  of  the  institu- 
tion, it  was  necessary  to  build  a  power  house  for  the  dyna- 
mos and  engine,  and  to  "wire"  the  vast  buildings,  not  for- 
getting even  the  laundry,  observatory  and  stables.  Work 
was  begun  during  the  summer  and  on  October  10th  the 
service  was  tested.  The  study-halls  were  now  brilliantly 
lit  up  by  dazzling  clusters  of  lamps:  in  the  church  the  old 
Bailey  reflectors  with  tbeir  oil-lamps  made  way  for  scores 
of  incandesent  bulbs  arranged  artistically  about  the  capi- 
tals of  pillars  and  along  the  walls  of  the  sanctuary  and 
shedding  a  light  that  lent  new  charms  to  the  soft  colors 
and  gleams  of  gold  in  the  decorations. 

On  September  24th  occurred  the  death  of  P.  Anthony 
Capser,  who  is  known  to  the  students  of  several  classes 
as  a  professor  and  disciplinarian.  He  was  57  years  of  age 
and  had  served  many  years  in  the  mission  in  Pennsylvania 


120  St.    John's    University 

and  the  Western  States. 

Oli  January  19th,  1899,  the  students  attended  services 
for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  Kev.  E.  J.  Lawler,  '84,  who 
died  January  17th.  He  was  pastor  of  Hinckley  when  that 
town  w^as  wiped  out  by  ilames  in  1894  and  many  lives  were 
lost.  On  that  occasion  he  did  heroic  service,  but  his  health 
suffered  such  a  shock  in  consequence  that  he  never  fully 
recovered.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  chaplain  of 
St.  Marys  Hospital,  Duluth. 

By  far  the  best  dramatic  production  of  the  year  was 
that  entitled  "Fidelis  von  Sigmaringen"  by  the  members 
of  the  St.  Boniface  L.  A.  during  an  entertainment  compli- 
mentary to  Bishop  Trobec  on  March  21st. 

In  the  lecture  course  appeared  Judges  Searle  and  Col- 
lins, and  Mr.  P.  J.  Winter,  whose  services  merit  the 
thanks  of  many  classes  that  had  the  pleasure  to  listen  to 
gentlemen  of  such  distinction  and  ability. 

On  May  4  the  seminarians  in  a  body  repaired  to  St. 
Cloud  to  assist  at  the  obsequies  of  their  late  fellow-stu- 
dent, Mr.  Matthias  Meyer,  whose  life  had  been  cut  short 
by  consumption  when  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  the 
course  of  theological  studies.  He  was  a  brother  of  P. 
Athanasius  Meyer,  the  Rev.  Rector  of  the  Seminary. 

The  schoolyear  terminated  on  June  23d  when  the  class 
honors  were  awarded.  Bishop  Trobec  and  Rev.  Dr.  Hef- 
fron,  rector  of  St.  Paul  Seminary,  himself  an  old  student 
of  '79,  addressed  the  outgoing  class.  The  degree  of  Ph.  B. 
was  conferred  on  2  candidates,  that  of  A.  M.  on  one,  and 
that  of  M.  A.  on  30.  Eight  medals  were  awarded.  The 
total  enrollment  was  237  —  of  which  number  47  were  sem- 
inarians and  190  students  in  all  other  departments. 

During  vacation  P.  Placidus  Wingerter  went  to  Rome 
to  be  a  professor  at  the  Greek  College  of  San  Atanasio, 
and  P.  Bruno  Doerfler,  who  returned  from  the  Eternal 
City,  was  appointed  Director  of  the  University  to  succeed 
P.  Alexius  Hoffmann, 


LIBHARY 

Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.    John's    Univeesity  121 


1899-1900 


From  the  catalogue  of  1899  it  appears  that  the  old  des- 
ignation of  classes  by  numerals  —  such  as  First  Class, 
Second  Class  etc.  —  was  no  longer  acceptable.  The 
Preparatory  course  was  now  to  be  styled  the  Elementary 
course,  with  three  years  assigned  for  its  work.  The  Class- 
ical course  was  made  to  comprise  seven  years:  the  Acad- 
emic department  comprised  the  third,  second  and  first 
Academic  classes,  the  Collegiate  department  comprised 
the  classes  of  Humanities,  Poetry,  Rhetoric  and  Philoso- 
phy. For  the  Ecclesiastical  course  four  years  were  as- 
signed,^— one  year  of  Philosophy,  in  addition  to  that  in  the 
Classical  course,  and  three  of  Theology  and   allied  studies. 

If  the  Scientific  course  was  up  to  this  time  treated  as  a 
"useful  complement  of  a  liberal  education",  it  was  owing 
to  the  limited  facilities  "for  offering  the  student  a  com- 
prehensive course.  The  time  had  arrived  when  it  became 
advisable  to  establish  a  separate  couse  for  sciences.  The 
faculty  offered  courses  in  General  Physics,  Applied  El- 
ectricity, Mechanics,  Astronomy,  Zoology  and  Botany. 

In  the  Seminary  P.  Bernard  Kevenhoerster  succeeded 
P.  Athanasius  Meyer  as  Rector ;  he  has  filled  the  office  since 
that  time  to  the  present  day.  P.  Athanasius  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  responsible  position  of  a  master  of  novices 
in  which  capacity,  in  addition  to  numerous  professorial 
duties,  he  is  still  active. 

During  the  vacation  preceding  the  schoolyear,  the  plas- 
tered ceilings  in  several  of  the  class  rooms  were  replaced 
by  ceilings  of  pressed  steel,  and  the  rickety  wooden  stair- 
case leading  to  the  north  side  entrance  made  way  for  an 
elegant  iron  structure. 

On  Thanksgiving  day  the  several  musical  organizations 
presented  a  very  interesting  programme,  in  which  the 
vocal  numbers  were  especially  highly  appreciated.  On 
Dec.  20,  on  the  eve  of  the  beginning  of  the  Christmas 
holidays,  the  Alexian  L.  A.  presented  the  drama  "William 


122  St.    John's    University 

Tell,"  an  adpatation  of  Schiller's  famous  drama. 

Again  relentless  death  knocked  at  the  college  gate,  this 
time  summoning  in  the  prime  of  his  life  P.  Lambert  Thel- 
en.  He  was  born  in  Chicago,  111.,  August  25,  1874,  made 
his  entire  course  at  St.  John's,  became  a  member  of  the 
Benedictine  Order  in  1895  and  was  ordained  a  priest 
March  22,  1899.  As  early  as  May  1898,  his  health  gave 
way  and  he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  active  work.  In 
July  1899  he  was  sent  to  Colorado  to  find  relief  in  the  air 
of  the  mountain  region.  All  efforts  were  of  no  avail;  he 
died  at  Pueblo,  Colo.,  March  8,  1900,  and  his  remains  were 
brought  to  St.  John's  for  burial. 

During  the  ensuing  summer  strenuous  efforts  were  made 
to  beautify  the  landscape  with  trees.  The  cyclone  had 
swept  away  many  acres  of  woodland  and  the  bitter  blasts 
of  winter  had  full  sway.  Several  brave  attempts  had  al- 
ready been  made  at  building  up  a  new  forest,  notably  on 
the  peninsula  opposite  the  laundry,  called  "Adrianople," 
and  in  the  tract  between  Caesar's  bay  and  Boniface 
bay.  The  good  work  was  continued  north  of  the  build- 
ings, along  the  lake  shore  and  wherever,  as  a  Record 
writer  puts  it,  there  was  place  to  dig  a  hole.  Although 
neither  the  present,  nor  even  the  next  generation  will  see 
St.  John's  surrounded  by  such  a  forest  as  it  had  twenty 
years  ago,  the  local  arboriculturists  have  perpetuated  their 
memories  in  a  delightful  way. 

A  prominent  feature  of  the  year  was  the  revival  of  sports 
and  the  organization  of  the  St.  John's  Athletic  association 
on  a  grander  scale  than  ever.  Under  the  auspices  of  the 
association,  baseball  and  football  teams  were  trained, 
games  scheduled  and  sporting  goods  furnished.  The  fates 
and  fortunes  of  the  association  will  be  narrated  in  a  later 
chapter. 

Closing  exercises  were  held  June  22.  The  degree  of 
Ph.  B.  was  conferred  on  two  candidates;  that  of  M.  A.  on 
41.     On  the  rolls   were  the  names   of   226  students  —  37 


St.    John's    University  123 

seminarians  and  189  in  all  other  departments.  Eight 
medals  were  awarded.  The  catalogue  was  larger  than  that 
of  any  preceding  year  and  was  adorned  with  twelve  half- 
tone engravings.  A  change  was  introduced  in  the  naming 
of  the  classes  of  the  classical  course:  they  were  now  called 
beginning  with  the  lowest,  the  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Academic,  and  the  Freshmen,  Sophomore,  Junior  and 
Senior  class.  In  the  schedule  for  the  Scientific  course,  the 
first  two  years  are  identical  with  the  first  and  second 
Academic,  the  following  five  are  independent.  The  class 
of  1900  signalized  itself  by  adopting  college  colors  —  blue 
and  cardinal  —  and  a  college  yell.  July  18  and  19th 
witnessed  an  enthusiastic  assembly  of  the  Alumni,  at  which 
the  various  branches  were  well  represented. 

1900-1901. 

During  vacation  the  Rt.  Rev.  President  departed  for 
Europe  and  after  visiting  the  principal  cities  and  Bene- 
dictine monasteries  of  the  Continent,  attended  the  conse- 
cration of  the  church  of  San  Anselmo,  connected  with  the 
Benedictine  university  of  the  same  name,  in  Rome,  on 
Nov.  11.     He  returned  to  St.  John's  December  16th. 

The  first  class  of  the  twentieth  century  sat  down  to  its 
tasks  promptly,  resolved  to  set  a  pace  for  the  following 
ninety-nine  classes  of  the  new  age.  A  biological  laboratory 
was  fitted  up  in  the  first  floor  and  classes  in  botany  and 
zoology  were  organized. 

On  October  5  the  students  met  in  the  Assembly  Hall  to 
celebrate  the  namesday  of  their  Rev.  Director,  P.  Bruno. 
Music  and  addresses  filled  out  a  pleasant  hour,  and  P. 
Bruno  was  made  the  recipient  of  several  useful  presents  as 
souvenirs  of  the  occasion.  This  may  be  a  slight  incident 
to  commemorate;  yet  the  event  stands  to  the  credit  of  the 
class  of  '01,  as  demonstrating  their  respect  for  their  su- 
perior. 

As  a  pleasant  close  of  the   century,  the  Alexian   L.  A 


124  St.    John's    University 

presented  the  stirring  drama  "Pizarro"  on  December  20th. 
So  well  was  the  i)lay  received,  that  the  members  accepted 
an  invitation  of  Mr.  Davidson,  manager  of  the  St.  Cloud 
Opera  House,  to  perform  it  in  that  city  on  January  16th 
following.  The  press  notices  were  exceedingly  compli- 
mentary. 

An  event,  the  first  of  its  kind  at  the  institution  and  one 
which  turned  out  to  be  a  veritable  ovation,  was  the  cele- 
bration of  the  Silver  Jubilee  of  the  priesthood  of  P.  Fran- 
cis Mershman,  the  senior  professor  at  the  institution,  on 
January  9.  1901.  On  January  1st,  P.  Francis  had  cele- 
brated the  anniversary  at  Luxemburg,  Stearns  Co.,  where 
he  had  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  the  first  time  twenty 
five  years  before.  The  seminarians  at  St.  John's  felt  that 
they  could  not  permit  the  occasion  to  pass  without  a  de- 
monstration, for  P.  Francis  had  been  a  teacher  in  the 
seminary  ever  since  1876.  On  the  evening  of  the  9th,  an 
entertainment  was  given  by  the  seminarians  assisted  by 
the  musical  organizations  of  the  college.  Bishop  Trobec 
and  a  number  of  the  secular  and  regular  clergy  of  the  dio- 
cese and  from  neighboring  States  were  present.  Addresses 
were  made  in  German,  English  and  Latin,  and  a  valuable 
keepsake  was  presented  the  Rev.  Jubilarian.  P.  Francis' 
name  occurs  in  the  list  of  the  faculty  as  a  professor  since 
1869.  The  snows  of  age  are  upon  him  now,  but  his  cheer- 
ful disposition  carries  him  triumphantly  through  the 
wear  and  strain  of  an  educator's  life. 

Washington's  Birthday  saw  the  debut  of  the  newly  or- 
ganized St.  John's  U.  Dramatic  Association  in  that  fasci- 
nating comedy,  "The  Old  Captain's  Idea,  or  the  Living 
Statue." 

Early  in  the  year  the  public  was  informed  that  the 
faculty  contemplated  building  a  gymnasium  and  a  li- 
brary in  the  near  future,  and  before  many  moons  elapsed, 
the  first  important  steps  had  been  taken  to  realize  the 
idea.     Mr.  C.  R.  Aldrich,  the  Minneapolis  architect,  was 


St.    John's    Univeesity  125 

entrusted  with  the  task  of  drawing  plans  for  both  build- 
ings. Work  at  excavation  for  the  library  building  was  be- 
gun April  12th  and  within  a  month  the  foundation  walls 
were  completed.  The  masons  at  once  were  set  to  work  on 
the  foundation  for  the  gymnasium,  which  stands  a  very 
short  distance  to  the  northwest  of  the  buildings,  while  the 
library  is  located  off  the  southwest  corner  of  the  middle 
building.  The  contract  for  erection  of  the  library  was  let 
to  Mr.  J.  Heimann  of  St.  Cloud  for  $13,100.  By  the  end 
of  the  schoolyear  both  buildings  were  steadily  progressing. 

On  June  20th,  commencement  evercises  were  held.  8 
medals  were  awarded:  the  degree  of  B.  A.  was  conferred 
on  4  graduates  in  the  classical  course  and  that  of  M.  A.  on 
41  graduates  of  the  commercial  course.  The  total  number 
of  students  enrolled  was  243  —  39  seminarians  and  204 
other  students.  "With  the  martial  sounds  of  a  drum  and 
a  fife''  the  outgoing  class  marched  to  the  railroad  station 
with  waving  banners  and  streamers  in  College  colors.  The 
coaches  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  students,  and  even 
the  locomotive,  were  decorated  with  the  colors  and  so 
the  first  class  of  the  twentieth  century  rushed  out  gleefully, 
hopefully  into  the  broad  field  of  action. 

Four  weeks  later,  July  17th,  P.  Norbert  Hofbauer,  whose 
name  is  familiar  to  many  classes  of  students,  closed  his 
eyes  in  death.  He  had  come  to  St.  John's  as  a  slip  of  a 
boy  in  1867;  he  had  no  wealth  beyond  a  few  musical  in- 
struments and  exceptionally  brilliant  talents,  not  only  for 
music  but  for  almost  every  other  subject.  In  1873  he  en- 
tered the  Order,  in  1877  he  was  ordained  a  priest:  from 
1877-79  he  was  sub-prior  and  from  1879-89  prior  in  the 
monastery.  He  organized  the  commercial  college  in  1877 
and  was  its  principal  for  many  years.  In  the  80's  he  or- 
ganized the  orchestra  and  was  its  director  to  within  a  short 
time  before  his  death.  A  very  brief  illness  preceded  his 
death,  which  by  reason  of  its  comparative  suddenness, 
came  as  a  powerful  shock  to  his  many  pupils  and   friends. 


126  St.    John's    University 

"       1901-1902 

In  consequence  of  the  removal  of  the  Collegeville  station 
building  by  the  Great  Northern  railway  company,  the 
authorities  of  the  institution  were  compelled  to  erect  near 
the  station  some  kind  of  shelter  for  students  and  visitors 
to  St.  John's.  A  spacious  two-story  frame  building  was 
erected  to  accommodate  the  station  agent,  Mr.  A.  J.  Kug- 
ler,  and  his  family,  as  well  as  the  postoffice  and  express 
and  ticket  office. 

Hitherto  the  duties  of  a  chaplain  had  been  divided  be- 
tween the  Director  of  the  College  and  the  Director  of  the 
Sodality;  it  was  now  deemed  expedient  that  the  work  be 
confided  to  one  person  and  P.  Bernard  Kevenhorster,  who 
had  been  appointed  Director  of  the  Sodality,  became  the 
first  official  Chaplain  of  the  students,  and  holds  the  posi- 
tion at  the  present  time. 

Failing  health  induced  P.  John  Katzner,  the  director  of 
the  musical  department,  to  retire  from  active  college  work 
and  take  medical  treatment.  He  has  not  regained  his 
original  health  and  vigor,  nor  taken  up  college  work  since 
that  time,  but  devotes  himself  to  pomology  and  tree-culture, 
in  both  of  which  lines  he  has  been  very  successful.  His 
apple  orchard  and  tree  plantation  are  sights  worth  seeing. 
Some  of  the  results  of  his  experience  have  been  communi- 
cated to  horticultural  journals.  He  is  at  present  one  of 
the  vice-presidents  of  the  Minnesota  Horticulture  Society. 
His  successor  in  the  direction  of  the  musical  department 
was  P.  Edmund  Basel. 

P.  Ulric  Scheffold,  for  four  years  Principal  of  the  Com- 
mercial Department,  resigned  that  position  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington and  help  at  building  up  St  Martin's  College.  He 
left  St.  John's  just  before  the  opening  of  the  school  term, 
and  at  once  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the  West.  At 
present  he  presides  over  a  pastoral  charge  in  Seattle, 
Wash.  At  St.  John's  he  was  succeeded  in  the  position  of 
Principal  by  P.  Kilian  Heid. 


St.     John's    University  127 

The  Record  in  October  1901  chronicles  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Rnpp  was  erecting  a  general  store  within  a  stone's-throw 
from  the  cemetery.  Since  Mr.  Broker's  discontinuance 
of  the  store  at  Collegeville  years  ago,  there  had  been  no 
store  in  the  vicinity. 

When  the  rugged  season  set  in,  the  new  gymnasium,  al- 
though not  finished  in  the  interior,  was  opened  for  use. 
"The  new  gymnasium",  says  the  Record  in  November 
1901,  "presents  a  castle-like  appearance  of  great  symmetry 
and  beauty.  It  is  constructed  of  the  best  quality  of  Men- 
ominee pressed  brick  upon  a  massive  granite  foundation. 
The  extreme  length  and  breadth  of  the  building  are  120 
and  93  feet  respectively.  The  total  height  from  the  ground 
to  the  top  of  the  16  ft  flagstaff  is  67  ft.  The  main  build- 
ing (63X114ft)  is  divided  into  two  large  halls.  The  one 
to  the  south  is  30  ft  wide,  60  ft.  long  and  22  ft.  high;  it  will 
serve  as  a  gymnasium  and  recreation  room  for  the  smaller 
boys.  The  larger  hall  is  60X80  ft.  on  the  ground  and  22 
ft.  high,  with  an  elevated  track  running  around  the  entire 
hall  at  an  elevation  of  9  ft.  The  room  will  be  used  by  the 
larger  students  and  will  afford  ample  space  for  gymnastics 
and  athletics.  Being  entirely  free  from  pillars  and  other 
obstructions,  it  is  an  ideal  place  for  hand- ball,  basket-ball, 
indoor  base-ball,  tennis  and  other  games,  the  running 
track  serving  admirably  as  a  grand  stand  to  accommodate 
the  spectators.  The  two  large  halls  of  the  main  building 
are  separated  by  a  solid  brick  wall,  so  constructed  that,  in 
case  the  number  of  students  will  greatly  increase,  it  can 
be  removed  without  impairing  the  strength  of  the  build- 
ing in  the  least,  thus  providing  an  immense  track-hall 
60X110  ft.  and  22  ft.  from  floor  to  ceiling.  Nearest  the 
(main)  entrance,  is  the  office  of  the  physical  director, 
whilst  to  the  left  a  winding  stairway  ascends  to  the  upper 
floor,  in  the  circular  tower.  On  the  south  side  of  the  main 
passage  are  the  bath  and  toilet-rooms.  A  large  basement 
20X90  ft  in  dimensions,  under   the   front   portion   of   the 


128  St.    John's    University 

building,  will  accommodate  two  bowling  alleys.  The  second 
floor  of  the  front  contains  a  billiard  room,  18X25  ft.  in  di- 
mensions, from  which  access  is  gained  to  the  running 
track  in  the  main  hall."  The  entire  building  is  heated 
from  the  central  steam  plant  and  lighted  by  electricity. 
Next  in  order  was  the  appropriate  equipment  of  the  gym- 
nasium and  the  installation  of  a  physical  trainer. 

On  the  e^'ening  of  St.  Cecilia's  day  and  of  Thanksgiving 
the  faculty  and  students  were  regaled  by  musical  treats. 

During  the  Christmas  holidays  the  abbey  library,  the 
museum,  musical  department  and  photograph  gallery  were 
moved  from  their  old-quarters  to  the  new  library  building. 
The  latter  is  a  three-story,  fire-proof  structure,  52X88  ft; 
on  the  ground  floor  is  the  abbey  library,  which  now  con- 
tains about  21000  volumes;  on  the  second  floor  is  the  mu- 
seum with  ofiice  and  storeroom.  On  the  third  floor  are 
the  photograph  gallery  and  twelve  music  rooms,  each  fur- 
nished with  either  a  piano  or  an  organ.  The  space  vacat- 
ed in  the  college  by  the  removal  of  the  music  rooms  to  the 
new  building  was  utilized  for  class  rooms. 

Again  the  work  of  the  class-room  was  crippled  by  the 
prevalence  of  sickness,  so  that  not  even  a  celebration  of 
Washington's  Birthday  could  be  held.  The  buildings  were 
under  quarantine  for  a  short  time,  and  no  case  proved  fatal. 

In  spring  the  outfit  for  the  gymnasium  arrived  and  the 
resources  for  exercise  and  amusement  increased  by  the 
construction  of  a  brick  hand- ball  alley  at  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  the  campus,  near  the  tennis  court. 

P.  Bruno  found  time  amid  his  varied  duties  to  promote 
fish -culture.  It  was  through  his  efforts  the  institution  ob- 
tained exclusive  fishery  rights  in  St.  John's  Lake,  and  in 
course  of  the  summer  the  State  fish  commission  placed  a 
considerable  number  of  wall-eyed  pike  in  the  lake.  At  the 
same  time  a  trout  pond  was  constructed  near  the  Watab 
for  raising  that  excellent  variety  of  fish.  I'he  work  has 
grown  considerably  in  dimensions  and  is  now  in  charge  of 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.     John's    University  129 

P.  Bruno's  brother.  P.  Hilary  Doerfler. 

At  the  commencement  exercises  June  20th  the  degree 
of  B.  A.  was  conferred  on  two  candidates  and  that  of  M. 
A.  oil  40  graduates.  Seven  medals  were  awarded.  The 
total  enrollment  for  the  year  was  331,  being  the  largest 
number  hitherto  enrolled.  Of  these,  46  were  seminarians 
and  285  in  all  other  courses.  The  great  leap  in  numbers 
is  partly  due  to  the  establishment  of  a  Winter  School  in 
1901.  This  department  was  instituted  for  the  benefit  of 
young  men  whose  circumstances  did  not  permit  them  to 
attend  school,  except  during  the  winter  months.  By  way 
of  an  inducement,  the  terms  were  fixed  for  such  students 
at  $90.  to  cover  tuition  and  board  from  November  4th 
to  March  25th. 

1902-1903 

After  three  years  of  meritorious  work  P.  Bruno  laid  down 
the  burdens  of  his  office' and  became  librarian  of  the 
abbey.  He  subsequently  became  instrumental  in  organiz- 
ing the  German  Catholic  colony  in  the  valley  of  the  Sas- 
katchewan, Canada;  in  1905  left  St.  John's  to  assume 
editorial  charge  of  the  "St.  Peters  Bote,"  the  organ  of  the 
colony,  and  since  1906  has  been  canonical  Prior  of  St. 
Peter's  Monastery,  Muenster,  Sask.  His  successor  in  the 
office  of  Director  was  P.  Leonard  Kapsner,  who  for  two 
years  previous  had  been  Treasurer  of  the  University,  and 
disciplinarian. 

During  vacation  a  campus  had  been  graded  for  the  Jun- 
iors north  of  the  buildings,  thus  making  it  possible  to 
separate  the  older  from  the  younger  students  more  effect- 
ually during  recreation  time.  Part  of  the  third  floor  of 
the  college  buildings  was  converted  into  laboratories  and 
lecture  rooms  for  the  departments  of  physics  and  chemis- 
try, and  the  room  formerly  used  as  a  chemical  laboratory 
was  turned  over  to  the  class  in  mechanical  drawing. 

On  October  4th  occurred  the  death  of  P.  Melchior  Bah- 
ner.     Born  in  St.  Cloud,  Minn.,  Dec.  9.    1870,   he   entered 


180  St.    John's    University 

St.  John's  in  1883,  made  vows  as  a  Benedictine  Aug.  30, 
1890,  and  was  ordained  April  25,  1894.  Upon  the  advice 
of  his  physician,  he  went  to  the  Bahama  islands  in  1892 
and  after  his  ordination,  assisted  in  the  mission  at  Nassau. 
Early  in  the  present  year  he  felt  that  his  earthly  course 
was  run  and  begged  to  be  permitted  to  return  to  Minne- 
sota. He  did  not  resume  active  work  but  continued  stead- 
ily declining  in  health,  until  death  released  him  from  his 
sufferings  at  the  age  of  not  quite  thirty-two  years. 

For  Thanksgiving  day  the  St.  John's  U.  Dramatic  As- 
sociation prepared  a  catching  German  comedy  "Rinaldo 
Rinaldini,"  and  at  the  Yule-tide  entertainment  they  per- 
formed "Major  Andre,"  a  tragedy.  On  February  1st  and 
on  Washington's  Birthday  the  musical  organizations  ap- 
peared in  concerts. 

After  gracing  the  landscape  for  thirty  long  years,  the 
romantic  little  chapel  on  the  island  fell  a  prey  to  flames 
on  April  17.  1903.  It  had  been  built  by  students  and 
clerics  in  1872  and  was  much  admired  by  all  who  saw  its 
red  walls  and  white  spire  gleam  though  its  rich  setting  of 
forest. 

It  was  a  great  year  for  athletics;  the  pages  of  the Becoi^d 
fairly  bristle  with  glowing  reports  of  victories  along  every 
line  of  effort.  One  event  was  well  calculated  to  stir  up  a 
more  general  interest  in  physical  development,  a  feature  in 
education  that  is  too  generally  disregarded.  It  was  the 
Field  Day  held  May  27th,  the  first  event  of  its  kind  in  our 
history.  On  the  programme  were  a  50  yard  dash,  100  yard 
dash,  running  broad  jump,  shot  put,  discus  throwing,  half- 
mile  relay  race,  not  to  forget  the  sack-race. 

On  Commencement  day,  June  19th,  the  degree  of  Bach- 
elor of  Science  was  conferred  on  one  candidate  and  the  de- 
gree of  M.  A.  on  27  graduates  of  the  Commercial  course. 
The  usual  exercises  were  diversified  by  an  address  by  Mr. 
William  Markoe,  '69,  a  zealous  worker  in  the  interests  of  the 
International  Truth  Society,     Seven  medals  were  awarded. 


St,    John's    University  131 

During  the  year  337  students  were   enrolled  —  39   semin- 
arians and  298  in  all  other  departments. 

1903-04 

The  staff  of  professors  was  increased  by  the  return  of 
P.  Alcuin  Deutsch  from  Rome,  where  he  had  spent  six 
years  in  study  at  San  Anselmo,  graduating  with  the  title 
of  Doctor  of  Philosophy  this  year.  He  was  at  once  ap- 
pointed professor  of  philosophy  and  is  active  in  that  capa- 
city to  this  day. 

Although  the  gymnasium  and  outfit  were  at  hand  for 
some  time,  physical  training  had  not  been  organized  on  a 
systematic  basis.  In  fall  of  this  year  (1903)  a  special  in- 
structor in  this  line  of  work  was  secured  in  Mr.  Peter  Bo- 
quel,  of  Soath  Bethlehem,  Pa.  As  a  first  venture  he  was 
engaged  to  teach  from  October  1  to  April  1,  covering  the 
period  when  outdoor  exercises  are  at  a  minimum  and  when 
the  continual  indoor  life  is  most  apt  to  tell  upon  the  physi- 
cal health  of  the  student.  The  trainer,  besides  conducting 
the  regular  culture  classes,  voluntarily  acted  as  coach  for 
the  athletic  teams. 

During  October  Mr.  J.  W.  Arctander  spent  several  days 
at  the  institution  and  created  two  pleasant  evenings  for 
the  students  by  illustrated  lectures  on  Alaska,  its  history, 
resources,  attractions  and  future.  His  glowing  accounts 
were  a  revelation  to  those  who  imagined  that  the  North 
was  synonymous  with  ice  and  death. 

The  annual  Retreat  in  the  Seminary  was  conducted  by 
Rev.  H.  J.  Untraut,  of  the  diocese  of  La  Crosse  from  Feb- 
ruary 23  to  26. 

During  the  year  the  several  organizations  found  time  to 
prepare  programmes  for  the  chief  festival  occasions.  On 
Thanksgiving  day  an  entertainment  was  given  by  the 
musical  organizations,  the  only  specialty  introduced  being 
an  exhibition  of  Indian  club  swinging.  On  December 
15th,  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot's  ordin- 
ation, an  entertainment  complimentary  to  him  was   given 


132  St.    John's    University 

at  which  the  S.  J.  U.  Dramatic  Association  performed 
"Maurice,  the  Woodcutter".  On  December  22  there  was 
a  concert,  with  gymnastical  and  legerdemain  performan- 
ces by  Mr.  A.  Moos  brugger,  of  St.  Cloud.  On  March  4. 
the  Dramatic  Association  presented  "Handy  Andy",  on 
the  17th  a  small  programme  was  executed.  The  last  en- 
tertainment was  on  Memorial  Day.  On  the  latter  also  the 
Field  Day  exercises  were  held. 

Although  sickness  was  less  prevalent  than  in  preceding 
years,  two  cases  proved  fatal.  The  first  was  the  case  of  Jos. 
Hall,  of  Manitowoc,  Wis,,  who  died  November  20,  1903 
after  a  brief  and  apparently  not  very  serious  illness;  the 
second  was  Frank  Fuessy.  of  Royalton,  Minn.,  who  suc- 
cumbed to  a  severe  siege  of  pneumonia  on  February  12, 
1904.  In  both  instances  the  remains  were  shipped  to 
their  homes  for  interment. 

Three  priests  of  the  Order  and  former  professors  closed 
their  earthly  career  during  this  schoolyear.  P.  Timothy 
Vaeth,  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.  July  14.  1854,  professed  as 
a  Benedictine  in  1882,  ordained  July  26,  1885,  and  pastor 
successively  at  Luxemburg,  St.  Joseph,  Duluth,  New 
Munich  and  East  Minneapolis,  w^here  he  was  stationed 
since  1894,  died  November  4,  1903.  He  was  followed  on 
March  11,  1904  by  P.  Pancratius  Maehren,  born  in  Conz- 
en,  near  Cologne,  Germany  May  24,  1846,  professed  1871, 
ordained  Sept.  21,  1874.  He  was  the  first  professor  of 
natural  sciences  at  St.  John's  and  later  labored  in  pastoral 
charges  at  Minneapolis,  Meire  Grove,  Richmond,  Pierz, 
Freeport  and  Farming.  From  September  1893  to  April 
1895  he  was  prior  at  the  abbey.  He  died  at  Farming,  his 
last  station.  On  May  20,  1904  followed  P.  Joseph  Vill, 
born  January  8,  1835  in  Germany,  professed  1862,  or- 
dained February  2,  1867.  He  labored  as  missionary  in 
many  of  the  missions  of  Stearns  county  and  towards  the 
end  of  his  life  lived  in  retirement  as  chaplain  at  several 
charitable  institutions. 


St.    John  s    University  133 

The  continual  difficulty  of  procuring  suitable  male 
bands  to  conduct  the  kitchen  led  to  the  introduction  of  a 
number  of  Sisters  of  the  Presentation  from  France  in  May 
1904.  A  separate  residence  was  built  for  them  west  of  the 
library  building. 

On  June  5th  the  members  of  the  A.  L.  A.  held  a  public 
debate  on  the  subject:  Resolved  that  the  adjudication  of 
disputes  between  employers  and  employes  should  be  made 
part  of  the  administration  of  justice. 

A  distinguishing  feature  of  the  commencement  exercises 
on  June  23,  was  an  address  by  the  Rev.  L.  J.  Vaughan,  of 
Altoona,  Wis.  On  this  occasion  7  medals  were  awarded; 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  one  candi- 
date; that  of  Ph.  B.  on  one;  that  of  A.  B.  on  2;  that  of  B, 
S.  on  3;  and  that  of  M.  A.  on  21.  Diplomas  in  Shorthand 
and  Typewriting  were  conferred  on  3  graduates.  On  the 
rolls  appear  the  names  of  310  students  —  32  seminarians 
and  278  in  all  other  departments. 

On  June  29 —  after  the  class  of  '04  had  adjourned  —  the 
public  celebration  of  the  silver  jubilee  of  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Abbot's  ordination  was  celebrated;  at  the  same  time  a 
great  meeting  of  the  Alumni  was  held. 

1904-05 
After  an  absence  of  five  years  in  Rome,  where  he  had 
filled  responsible  positions  in  the  Greek  College,  P.  Plac- 
idus  Wingerter  returned  to  St.  John's  and  resumed  his 
labors  as  professor  of  Sacred  Scripture  and  languages. 
During  his  sojourn  abroad  he  secured  many  valuable 
books  for  the  faculty's  library. 

P.  Hugo  Tell,  who  received  a  pastoral  appointment,  was 
succeeded  as  Treasurer  of  the  college  by  P.  Richard  Sim- 
mer. For  the  gymnasium  the  services  of  Mr.  A.  Moos- 
brugger  of  St.  Cloud,  were  secured  for  this  year. 

No  changes  of  importance  had  been  made  in  the  cur- 
riculum of  studies,  but  special  efforts  had  been  made  to 
render  the  scientific  course  more  efficient  and  attractive. 


134  St.     John's    University 

Pleasant  and  memorable  days  of  the  year  were  Novem- 
ber 6th,  the  Rev.  Director's  namesday;  Thanksgiving  Day, 
on  which  "The  Proscribed  Heir"  was  produced;  Yule  Tide 
entertainment,  at  which  the  German  comical  play  "Der 
gescheiteste  Schwabenstreich"  proved  the  irresistible  at- 
traction;  Washington's  Birthday;  March  7th,  when  the 
play  "Falsely  Accused"  was  performed;  the  concert  on 
April  4th;  and  finally  that  on  June  13  in  honor  of  the 
newly  ordained  disciplinarians.  Fathers  Pius  and  .Paul. 

The  annual  Retreat  in  the  seminary  was  conducted  from 
Feb.  27  to  March  3  by  P.  William  O.  S.  B.  of  St.  Cloud. 

On  October  27th,  1904,  P.  Alphonse  Kuisle  died  at  the 
abbey.  Born  in  the  diocese  of  Augsburg,  Bavaria,  Oct.  15, 
1839,  professed  as  a  Benedictine  1869,  ordained  December 
22,  1872,  he  was  pastor  at  St.  Cloud,  Richmond,  Minnea- 
polis, Stillwater  and  of  Collegeville  congregation  (since 
1895).      Since   1899   he   had   also   been   subprior   of  the 

abbey. On  February  27,  1905  P.  Theodore  Kevenhoers- 

ter  died  at  Nassau,  Bahama  Islands.  He  was  a  brother  of 
P.  Bernard,  rector  of  the  Seminary,  and  born  in  Alten- 
Essen,  Prussia,  April  8,  1877.  He  made  profession  as  a 
Benedictine  August  28,  1897  and  was  ordained  June  15, 
1902.  Since  1897  he  was  a  professor  and  disciplinarian  in 
the  commercial  department.  A  few  months  after  his  or- 
dination his  health  failed;  upon  the  advice  of  physicians 
he  repaired  to  Colorado,  but  returned  to  Minnesota  in  the 
summer  of  1903.  In  October  of  that  year  he  left  for  the 
Bahamas,  never  more  to  return  alive.  He  spent  the  rest 
of  his  days  in  missionary  work  at  Nassau  and  the  news  of 
his  death  caused  deep  regret.  His  remains  were  escorted 
to  St.  John's  by  his  brother,  P.  Bernard,  and  interred  on 
March  7th. 

On  March  28  and  April  5  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Himsl,  '88, 
county  attorney  of  Stearns  County,  lectured  before  the 
Commercial  class   on   commercial    papers   and   contracts. 


St.    John's    University  135 

This  was  the  second  instance  of  a  former  alumnus  ascend- 
ing the  lecture  platform  here. 

Comlnencement  day  exercises  were  held  June  21.  The 
degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  one  graduate  —  the  late 
Rev.  Nicholas  Niedere  of  Hastings;  that  of  Ph.  B.  on  2; 
that  of  A.  B.  on  one;  that  of  M.  A.  on  20,  and  Shorthand 
Certificates  on  one.  7  medals  were  awarded.  The  entire 
number  of  students  enrolled  was  306  —  34  seminarians 
and  272  in  all  other  departments. 

During  vacation  the  Rev.  Director,  P.  Leonard  Kapsner, 
in  consideration  of  the  unsatisfactory  state  of  his  health, 
requested  his  superiors  to  relieve  him  from  dut}"  in  the 
position  he  had  held  for  three  years.  He  continued  in 
active  service  as  a  professor  during  part  of  the  next  school- 
year,  but  in  fall  1906  went  to  the  Pacific  slope  to  assist  at 
St.  Martin's  College.  He  was  succeeded  as  Director  at 
St.  John's  by  P.  Albert  Erkens,  the  present  incumbent. 

P.  Albert  is  a  native  of  Minnesota,  being  born  in  Jordan 
October  2,  1874.  He  pursued  his  course  of  classical 
studies  at  Teutopolis,  111.,  entered  the  Benedictine  Order 
at  St.  John's  in  1896  and  was  ordained  June  11, 1901.  He 
has  been  sctive  as  a  professor  since  1896  and  brought 
the  shorthand  and  typewriting  sections  into  prominence 
and  efiiciency. 

On  August  5th,  P.  Simplicius  Wimmerdiedat  the  abbey 
after  a  long  illness.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  December 
10,  1844,  professed  1869,  ordained  September  29,  1872. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  St.  Boniface  Literary 
Association.  During  his  long  career  he  attended  many  of 
the  missions  in  the  vicinity,  for  a  number  of  years  was 
professor  of  moral  theology  in  the  seminary,  and  for  a 
short  time  was  stationed  in  New  York  city. 

1905-06 

During  vacation  one  half  of  the  basement  in  the  north 
wing  was  fitted  up  as  a   bathroom    with   ten   showerbaths 


136  St.    Joiin^s    University 

housed  in  marble  stalls.  This  improvement,  together  with 
the  new  lavatories,  which  are  in  every  way  abreast  of  the 
times,  contributes  to  the  sanitation  of  the  buildings. 

In  September  P.  Bede  Mayenberger  was  sent  to  Rome 
for  a  course  of  higher  studies  at  San  Anselmo.  He  is  the 
fourth  representative  of  St.  John's  at  that  institution. 

For  this  schoolyear  Mr.  Harry  A.  Comeau,  of  New  London, 
Conn.,  was  secured  as  instructor  in  physical  culture.  He 
was  well  qualified  for  his  line  of  work,  having  served  his 
apprenticeship  under  skilled  masters  in  the  East.  To  the 
usual  exercises  he  added,  for  such  students  as  chose  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity,  lessons  in  fencing, 
boxing,  wrestling,  and  athletics.  He  also  had  a  set  of 
physical  examination  instruments  installed  to  examine  and 
record  the  physical  progress  of  his  pupils. 

Besides  the  usual  monthly  notes  in  deportment  and  ap- 
plication, monthly  examinations  and  class  notes  were  in- 
troduced. These  notes  were  handed  to  the  Rev.  Director 
who  supplied  copies  of  them  to  parents  or  guardians,  de- 
sirous of  being  informed  of  the  pupil's  progress.  It  is  a 
timely  provision  and  makes  for  thoroughness,  at  the  same 
time  offering  a  good  opportunity  for  co-operation  between 
the  faculty  and  parents. 

In  the  evening  of  September  21st,  Gen.  0.  C.  Andrews, 
of  St.  Paul,  Chief  Fire  Warden  of  the  State  of  Minnesota 
and  a  vigorous  champion  of  the  cause  of  forestry,  deliver- 
ed an  illustrated  lecture  on  American  and  foreign  forests 
and  forestry,  and  made  an  earnest  plea  for  the  preservation 
of  what  is  still  left  of  woods. 

On  October  14  a  reception  was  held  for  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Albert  Pascal,  vicar  apostolic  of  Saskatchewan,  who  paid 
his  first  visit  to  the  abbey,  accompanied  by  the  Prior  of 
St.  Peter's,  Canada,  Rt.  Rev.  Alfred,  O.  S.  B.  Speeches 
and  music  filled  the  evening;  the  good  bishop  spoke  very 
entertainingly  of  conditions  in  the  North  and  of  his  labors 
in  the  Arctic  circle. 


St.    John's    University  137 

Four  months  later  another  prelate  was  accorded  an  en- 
thusiastic reception.  Bishop  Augustine  Schinner  of  the 
newly  erected  diocese  of  Superior  was  introduced  by  Bishop 
Trobec,  of  St.  Cloud.  In  the  forenoon  of  February  16th  an 
entertainment  was  improvised  for  the  distinguished  visitor, 
at  which  he  addressed  the  students  in  a  vigorous  and  timely 
speech. 

The  lecture  course  was  supplied  by  Fathers  Alcuin  and 
Anselm;  the  former  delivered  several  illustrated  lectures 
on  Italy,  the  latter  on  astronomy.  For  these  lectures  an 
improved  instrument,  the  reflectoscope,  was  purchased. 
It  may  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  projecting  lantern  slides 
in  the  ordinary  way,  but  is  especially  valuable  for  reflect- 
ing colored  prints  and  opaque  objects. 

In  the  life  of  the  student,  joys  and  sorrows  alternate  as 
well  as  they  do  in  the  rest  of  the  world.  The  saddest 
feature  of  this  year  was  the  death  of  Eugene  Whalen 
on  January  18,  1906,  after  a  short  illness  of  tubercular 
meningitis.  His  sorrowing  parents  were  present  at  his 
bedside  when  he  surrendered  his  soul  into  the  hands  of 
his  Creator. 

The  musical  department  suffered  a  loss  —  we  hope,  only 
temporarily  —  by  the  departure  of  P.  Edmund  Basel  from 
Asheville,  N.  C.  early  in  March.  He  was  afflicted  with 
some  throat  trouble,  found  little  or  no  relief  in  special 
treatment,  and  was  advised  to  seek  a  milder  climate.  Last 
summer  he  left  Asheville  for  Nassau,  Bahama  Islands, 
where  he  is  at  present. 

The  annual  Retreat  for  the  Seminarians  was  conducted 
from  March  28  to  31  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Abbot. 

The  first  all-around  Athletic  Meet  and  Gymnastic  En- 
tertainment, the  first  of  its  kind  given  here,  was  held  in 
the  gymnasium  in  the  afternoon  of  November  16, 1905.  All 
the  participants  were  Junior  students.  A  similar  event,  in 
which  all  the  advanced  classes  took  part,  formed  part  of 
the  delights  of  Thanksgiving  day. 


138  St.    John's    University 

The  literary  and  musical  societies  entertained  on  Thanks- 
giving, by  performing  "The  Malediction",  a  drama  in  3 
acts;  on  December  21,  there  was  a  concert  at  which  Prof. 
Magnus  G.  Schutz,  '85  who  had  just  left  the  far  West 
to  make  his  abode  in  the  East,  volunteered  to  sing  some 
of  his  best  songs;  on  Washington's  Birthday  the  farce 
"Freedom  of  the  Press"  was  presented;  on  March  7,  the 
members  of  the  Seminary  gave  a  polyglot  and  musical  en- 
tertainment; speeches  and  declamations  were  delivered  in 
nine  languages,  six  of  which  are  taught  at  the  institution; 
on  St.  Boniface  day,  June  5,  the  dramatic  section  of  the 
St.  Boniface  L.  A.  presented  "Oblivio". 

On  May  17,  the  venerable  Father  Cornelius  Wittmann 
celebrated  the  golden  jubilee  of  his  ordination.  Although 
his  sight  was  impaired,  he  officiated  at  the  solemn  High 
Mass,  at  which  Bishop  Trobec,  of  St.  Cloud,  delivered  an 
elaborate  discourse  on  the  labors  of  the  Benedictines  in 
Minnesota  and  of  the  share  P.  Cornelius  had  in  the  work- 
in  the  evening  the  dramatic  association  presented  the 
historical  drama  "Alexander  III." 

Much  interest  centered  in  the  exercises  of  Field  Day, 
May  30.  It  was  an  ideal  day  in  every  respect  and  many 
friends  of  outdoor  sport  from  neighboring  places  had  come 
to  witness  the  evepts.  The  exercises  were  conducted  on 
the  college  campus.  12  medals,  gifts  of  alumni  and 
friends  of  the  institution,  were  awarded  the  winners  in  the 
several  contests. 

Commencement  exercises  were  held  on  June  21.  An 
address  to  the  graduates  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Wm.  F. 
Markoe,  '70,  on  "The  Absolute  Necessity  of  Christian  Ed- 
ucation for  the  Preservation  of  the  Nation",  a  discourse 
as  striking  and  convincing  as  it  was  interesting.  8  medals 
were  awarded.  The  degree  of  A.  B.  was  conferred  on  two 
candidates;  that  of  M.  A.  on  30  and  Amanuensis  Certifi- 
cates in  Shorthand  on  three.      Total  enrollment:  314  —  of 


St.    John's    University  139 

which  number  36  were  seminarians   and  278   in   all   other 
departments. 

1906-07 

At  last  the  jubilee  year  has  dawned :  the  fiftieth  school- 
year  opened  and  as  these  lines  go  to  print  is  still  in 
progress.  By  way  of  preparation  for  a  new  era,  new  floors 
were  laid  thoroughout  the  greater  part  of  the  college  build- 
ings: the  dining  room  received  a  ceiling  of  pressed  steel 
and  new  electroliers. 

P.  Kilian  Held  assumed  direction  of  the  orchestra,  and 
P.  Isidor  Siegler  took  charge  of  the  violin  class,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  P.  Edmund  Basel  was  still  abroad  under 
medical  treatment. 

An  important  change  was  made  in  the  Commercial 
course.  It  was  observed,  that  students  considered  them- 
selves fully  equipped  for  commercial  life  when  they  had 
learned  a  system  of  bookkeeping.  They  had  gone  forth 
but  soon  discovered  that  they  lacked  essentials  and  that 
without  an  ordinary  fundamental  education,  the  know- 
ledge of  bookkeeping  was  a  pure  delusion  and  a  snare. 
Hence  the  course  was  divided  into  two  grades,  the  first  of 
which,  as  the  catalogue  reads,  "comprises  those  studies 
that  compose  the  foundation  for  a  profitable  pursuit  of 
the  technical  subjects".  For  advancement  to  the  second 
grade  a  written  examination  is  required.  This  may  oblige 
the  student  to  remain  longer  at  school  than  under  the 
older  system,  but  it  ensures  a  better  start  and  gives  less 
occasion  for  dissatisfaction  and  regret. 

On  October  23,  Mr.  Warren  Upham,  secretary  of  the 
Minnesota  State  Historical  Society,  delivered  a  scholarly 
lecture  on  "The  First  White  Men  in  Minnesota." 

According  to  custom  the  Rev.  Director's  namesday, 
November  15,  was  celebrated  as  a  holiday.  In  the  evening 
an  entertainment  was  furnished,  by  the  college  organiza- 
tions. A  magnificent  leather  armchair  was  presented  the 
Rev.    Director  as  a  remembrance  of  that  pleasant  occasion. 


140  St.    John's    University 

A  few  days  later  P.  Eichard  Simmer,  chief  disciplin- 
arian of  the  Junior  hall  and  Treasurer  of  the  institution, 
left  for  a  milder  climate  upon  advice  of  physicians.  He 
spent  a  part  of  the  winter  in  Alabama,  but  intends  to  re- 
turn before  the  end  of  the  present  term.  The  duties  of 
Treasurer  were  assumed  by  P.  Pius  Meinz. 

Besides  the  lecture  already  mentioned  there  were  three 
series  during  the  winter:  five  by  P.  Alexius  Hoffmann  on 
North  America,  South  America  and  the  Insular  Depend- 
encies of  the  United  States:  two  by  P.  Anselm  on  Glacial 
Lake  Agassiz,  and  two  by  P.  Bernard  Kevenhoerster  on 
Yellowstone  Park.  Most  of  the  slides  used  for  illustrat- 
ing these  lecturers  were  made  by  the  home  photographic 
artist,  P.  Fridolin  Tembreull. 

For  Thanksgiving  day  "The  Merchant  of  Venice", 
adapted,  was  prepared,  and  rendered  with  exceptional  suc- 
cess. It  was  followed  up  at  the  Yuletide  entertainment 
by  a  performance   of   "The   Last   of   the   Narragansetts". 

During  the  Christmas  holidays,  the  students  whose  cir- 
cumstances did  not  permit  them  to  enjoy  the  sweets  of 
vacation  under  their  paternal  roof-tree  improvised  an  en- 
tertainment under  the  auspices  of  the   "Hard  Luck  Club". 

This  year,  too,  the  angel  of  death  claimed  a  victim.  Leo 
J.  Heck  left  college  in  good  health  to  spend  the  Christmas 
holidays  at  his  home  in  St.  Paul.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
holidays  he  was  prostrated  with  typhoid  fever  and  died 
January  20.  His  class-mates  conveyed  their  condolence 
to  his  bereaved  parents  in  the  shape  of  a  beautiful  floral 
tribute  and  a  handsomely  executed  set  of  resolutions. 

Father  John  Katzner  celebrated  the  silver  jubilee  of  his 
ordination  on  February  5,  and  although  "there  was  none 
of  the  glamour  and  external  signs  of  joy  which  usually 
surround  such  an  occasion",  he  received  numerous  fel- 
icitations from  those  of  his  friends  who  had  known  him  in 
the  days  of  his  energetic  activity  as  a  professor  of  music. 


St.    John's    University  141 

An  unusually  severe  winter  with  much  snow  defeated 
all  efforts  at  outdoor  sport  beyond  a  stroll  for  a  whiff  of 
fresh  air;  still  indoor  amusements  and  exercises  were  the 
order  of  the  day  without  intermission.  A  specimen  of  the 
work  accomplished  in  the  gymnasium  was  given  on  the 
evening  of  February  12  at  a  Grymnastic  Entertainment  in 
the  assembly  hall.  The  programme  was  executed  by  the 
body  of  student  instructors  under  direction  of  Mr.  H.  A. 
Comeau. 

On  the  evening  of  Washington's  birthday  an  English 
sketch  "The  Hypochondriac"  and  a  German  farce  "Der 
Dumrae  August"  furnished  an  hour  of  pleasure.  As  at  all 
functions  of  this  kind,  the  orchestra  filled  the  intervals 
with  the  best  music  at  its  disposal.  On  St.  Benedict's  day 
the  dramatic  association  presented  Bulwer-Lytton's  "Car- 
dinal Richelieu,"  a  drama  in   five  acts. 

The  annalist  has  thus  reached  the  present.  Three 
months  of  the  schoolyear  remain,  but  it  will  scarcely  be 
difficult  to  forecast  their  history.  The  attendance  during 
the  year  was  303  —  of  these  32  seminarians  and  271  in  all 
other  departments.  Minnesota  furnishes  the  bulk  of 
students  —  219;  next  follows  Wisconsin  with  26,  North 
Dakota,  21:  Iowa,  14;  South  Dakota,  10;  New  York,  Mon- 
tana and  Canada,  each  3;  Michigan,  Illinois,  Louisiana 
and  the  Bahama  Islands,  each,  1.  Although  the  total  en- 
rollment falls  slightly  short  of  last  year,  the  average  at- 
tendance has  probably  the  best  of  any  year. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
College  Organizations. 

This  sketch  would  be  incomplete  without  some  mention 
of  the  various  organizations  which,  if  not  parts  of  the  ed- 
ucational curriculum,  have  in  no  small  measure  contri- 
buted to  elevate  the  student  body  by  cherishing  the  love 
of  religion,  by  extending  the  knowledge  obtained  in  the 
classroom,  by  physical  exercises  calculated  to  preserve  that 
vigor  of  body  which  is  so  important  during  the  years  of 
study.  Many  a  student  fondly  remembers  the  hours  de- 
voted to  this  kind  of  work  and  will  no  doubt  be  proud  to 
learn  that  most  of  the  organizations  have  continued  to  live 
and  flourish  down  to  the  present  hour.  Many  an  organ- 
ization sprouted  up  and  lived  for  a  short  spell  —  it  filled 
the  need  of  the  hour  and  passed  away  when  its  task  was 
done  or  taken  over  by  a  kindred  society.  Membership  on 
these  organizations  has  always  been  voluntary;  at  the  head 
of  each  is  a  chief  officer  appointed  by  the  President  of  the 
institution,  and  each  is  governed  by  a  code  of  laws  formed 
by  the  organizations  themselves. 

I.  Religious. 

1.  The  Sodality  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  the  old- 
est organization  of  a  religious  character  in  the  college,  was 
organized  on  the  feast  of  St.  Aloysius,  June  21.  1870. 
"For   some   time   past,"   writes   a   correspondent   of   Der 

142 


St.    John's    University  143 

Wanderer  of  that  month  "a  number  of  students  have  been 
in  the  habit  of  meeting  in  the  chapel  during  recreation 
time  to  recite  the  Rosary.  Finally,  they  took  steps  to 
found  a  society:  P.  Alexius  Edelbrock  was  elected  direct- 
or and  Fr.  Simplicius  Wimmer  prefect.  It  was  resolved 
to  petition  for  aggregation  to  the  principal  Sodality  which 
has  its  seat  in  Rome,  where  it  was  organized  in  1563.  The 
General  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  is  empowered  to  aggre- 
gate other  societies.  P.  Alexius  sent  a  petition  to  Rev.  P. 
Tschieder,  S.  J.,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  through  whose  kind 
offices  the  necessary  papers  were  secured  from  Rome.  On 
the  foundation  day  all  the  members  —  at  present  23  —  re- 
ceived the  Sacraments,  and  during  Mass  which  was  said 
for  them  by  the  Rev.  Director  of  the  Sodality,  they  pro- 
nounced the  formula  of  consecration  by  which  they  devo- 
ted themselves  in  a  special  manner  to  the  service  of  Our 
Lady." 

The  following  were  the  original  officers:  Director,  P. 
Alexius  Edelbrock;  prefect,  Joseph  Leuthard;  secretary, 
Nicholas  Steil;  censors,  John  Schulte  and  J.  Eha.  P.  Alex- 
ius filled  the  office  of  director  till  1877 ;  his  successors  were 
P.  Francis  Mershman,  1877-83;  P.  Alfred  Mayer,  1883-87 
P.  Alexius  Hoffmann,  1887-90;  P.Francis  Mershman,  1890- 
95;  P.  Michael  Ott,  1895-1901.  The  present  director  is  P. 
Bernard  Kevenhoerster,  since  1901. 

Every  day  the  members  perform  some  devotional  ser- 
vice in  common.  Originally  it  was  customary  to  recite 
the  Rosary  publicly  on  Sundays:  later  the  recitation  of 
the  Little  Office  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  on  Satur- 
days was  introduced,  and  this  practice  continues  to  the 
present  time.  The  six  Aloysian  Sundays  are  observed  by 
the  majority  of  the  members  every  year.  Both  the  living 
and  the  dead  share  in  the  spiritual  benefits  of  the  Sodal- 
ity. Every  day  prayers  are  said  for  them  in  the  college 
chapel  and,  in  case  the  Director  is  informed  of  the  death 
of  a  member,  a  Requiem  is  sung  for  the  repose  of  his  soul. 


144  St.    John's    Univeksity 

As  a  successful  means  of  fostering  piety  and  of  preserv- 
ing young  students  from  the  pernicious  influence  of  bad 
literature  the  Sodality  organized  a  circulating  library  of 
several  hundred  volumes,  books  by  reliable  Catholic  auth- 
ors. In  consideration  of  a  moderate  annual  fee  to  cover 
necessary  expenses  and  add  to  the  stock  of  books  on  hand, 
members  were  permitted  to  use  the  library.  Subsequently 
it  was  merged  with  the  libraries  of  the  two  literary  so- 
ciety (St.  Boniface  and  St.  Thomas)  to  form  what  is  now 
the  Students'  Library.  At  present  it  contains  about  2700 
volumes  which  are  accessible  in  the  students'  reading  room. 

A  handsomely  engraved  certificate  issued  on  the  day  of 
admission  to  the  Sodality,  reminds  the  members  of  the 
devout  promise  they  made  at  college.  Each  member  also 
receives  a  blue  silk  badge  which  is  worn  at  all  public  func- 
tions of  the  Sodality. 

2.  Second  in  order  of  time  is  the  St.  BenedicVs  Altar 
Boys  Association,  which,  as  its  name  indicates,  has  for 
its  worthy  object  the  efficient  training  of  boys  to  serve 
with  propriety  in  the  sanctuary.  In  the  small  chapel 
which  was  frequented  by  the  students  before  1882  there 
was  no  room  for  magnificent  ritual.  In  1882,  Fr. 
Chrysostom  Schreiner,  then  offiicial  master  of  ceremonies 
of  the  abbey,  organized  the  above  named  association  with 
a  membership  of  24,  the  first  student  officials  being  Jos. 
Wolf,  assistant,  and  Fred.  W.  Faber,  secretary.  Fr.  Chry- 
sostom's  successor  in  office  were  Frs.  Meinrad  Retten- 
maier,  Gerard  Spielman,  Corbinian  Hermanutz,  Demetrius 
Juenemann,  Anselm  Bartholmy,  Gabriel  Roerig,  Fidelis 
Lucking  and  Matthew  Britt.  The  latter,  who  presided 
from  1896-1900,  had  the  society  duly  affiliated  to  the  St. 
John  Berchmans  Sanctuary  Society  in  January  1897,  and 
the  local  organization  exists  by  that  name  to  this  day.  Fr. 
Matthew  also  wrote,  for  the  benefit  of  the  boys  in  his 
charge  a  "Ceremonial  for  Altar  Boys"  printed  by  the 
Record  in  1899,  which  has   since   gained   popularity   and 


REV.   ALEXIUS    HOFFMANN,    O. 
REV.    LEONARD    KAPSNER,    O. 


REV.    BRUNO    DOERFLER,   O.   S.    B. 
REV.   ALBERT   ERKENS,   O.    S.    B. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


St.    John's    University  145 

has  appeared  in  a  second  edition.  His  successors  in  office 
were  Frs.  Magnus  Hermanutz,  P.  Alcuin  Deutsch,  P.  Paul 
Neussendorfer.  The  present  director  is  Fr.  Hildebrand 
Eickhoff.  The  society  has  a  small  library  of  works  refer- 
ring to  liturgical  matters. 

3.  A  local  center  of  the  League  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
Apostleship  of  Prayer,  was  organized  in  October  1896,  and 
duly  affiliated.  It  began  with  a  very  encouraging  member- 
ship and  has  always  been  generously  patronized.  The  di- 
rection is  retained  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  President;  the  secre- 
taries in  immediate  charge  of  the  work  of  the  League 
since  its  inception  having  been  P.  Alexius  Hoffmann;  P. 
Bruno  Doerfler  and  —  since  1902  —  P.  Bernard  Keven- 
hoerster. 

II.  Literary. 

1.  The  Grace  Literary  Association  was  organized 
in  the  year  1869  by  the  senior  students  for  the  purpose  of 
acquiring  mastery  of  the  English  language,  especially  in 
oratory  and  debate.  It  took  its  name  in  honor  of  the  late 
Bishop  Thomas  L.  Grace  of  St.  Paul,  one  of  the  patrons 
of  the  institution.  Among  its  charter  members  and  chief 
promoters  were  Messrs.  Jos.  B.  Cotter  and  J.  McGrlone. 
In  1875  the  name  was  changed  for  that  of  the 

St.  Thomas  Literary  Association^  under  this  name  it 
continued  to  exist  till  1883,  then  slumbered  for  two  years, 
was  revived  in  1885  and  quietly  passed  out  of  existence  in 
1887,  leaving  the  field  to  the  Alexian  L.  A.  (see  below.) 
Its  presidents  from  the  beginning  were  J.  B.  Cotter,  M. 
T.  Ryan,  J.  W.  Nealis,  P.  Francis  Mershman,  1871-78,  P. 
Edward  Ginther,  P.  Alfred  Mayer  and  P.  Chrysostom 
Schreiner.  The  members  supported  a  library  which  was 
merged  with  that  of  the  Sodality  in  1883. 

2.  The  St.  Boniface  Literary  Association  was  organ- 
ized January  13.  1870  by  the  German  students  for  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  German  language  and  literature.     Its  motto 


146  St.    John's    UNiVEESixr 

Virtuti  et  Musis,  was  adopted  upon  the  motion  of  Fr.  Ber- 
nard Locnikar,  one  of  the  first  and  most  active  members. 
The  first  officers  were;  president,  Fr.  Boniface  Moll;  vice- 
pres.,  Fr.  Simplicins  Wimmer;  secretary,  Bernard  Buenk- 
ers;  censors  (critics),  Fr.  Bernard  Locnikar  and  Joseph 
Leuthard.  The  original  membership  was  21.  At  the 
time  of  its  organization  the  society  adopted  a  constitution 
which  was  changed  in  1892.  In  March  1870  a  library  of 
choice  German  books  was  opened,  and  continued  to  be 
operated  by  the  society  until  1883  when  it  was  united  with 
the  Sodality  library.  From  1870-1878  the  members  issued 
a  manuscript  monthly  which  bore  the  title  of  "Monats- 
schrift  des  St.  Bonifacius  Literar  Vereins".  The  publica- 
tion appeared  every  month  during  the  scholastic  year  and 
always  contained  excellent  articles.  As  only  one  copy  was 
issued  and  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  it  suffered  slightly. 
The  file  is  carefully  preserved  in  the  abbey  library  as  one 
the  monuments  of  earnest  endeavor  in  the  first  quarter  of 
of  the  history  of  the  institution.  On  March  7.  1895  the 
society  celebrated  the  silver  jubilee  of  its  foundation.  It 
has  had  the  following  presidents:  Fr.  Boniface  Moll,  P. 
Bernard  Locnikar,  P.  Augustine  Brockmeier,  P.  Simplici- 
us  Wimmer,  P.  Ludger  Ehrens,  P.  Chrysostom  Schreiner, 
P.  Stephen  Koefler,  P.  Gerard  Spielmann,  P.  Placidus 
Wingerter,  P.  Anselm  Ortmann,  P.  Athanasius  Meyer,  and 
P.  Alcuin  Deutsch. 

3.  The  St.  Aloysius  Literary  Society  was  organized  in 
1877  by  the  students  of  the  Junior  hall  for  practice  in  decla- 
mation and  debate.  Like  many  other  youthful  beings  it 
wilted  and  died  after  one  brief  year  of  life. 

4.  The  Alexian  Association  named  in  honor  of  the 
Rt.  Rev.  President  of  the  institution,  was  organized  by 
the  professor  of  rhetoric,  P.  Xavier  White  in  1879,  for 
the  special  benefit  of  the  students  attending  the  advanced 
English  classes.  Apart  from  several  minor  differences, 
this  society  covered  the  same   ground  as  the  St.   Thomas 


St.    John's    Univeesity  147 

L.  A.  and  the  membership  of  both  societies  was  practically 
the  same.  It  iSourished  to  the  end  of  1885  with  its  Rev. 
founder  as  its  president.  After  two  years  of  inactivity  it 
was  resuscitated  as  the  Alexian  Literary  Associaiiov, 
and  to  its  mast  was  pinned  the  venerable  motto  of  the 
defunct  St.  Thomas  L.  A.  ^'Nunquam  retrorsum.'^'  P, 
Chrysostom  Schreiner  was  its  president  till  1891,  his  suc- 
cessors were  P.  Alexius  Hoffmann,  P.  Charles  Cannon 
P'  Michael  Ott,  and  P.  Bernard  Kevenhoerster. 

In  1888  the  publication  of  the  St,  John's  University 
Record  was  begun  under  the  auspices  of  its  members.  — The 
association  also  had  a  dramatic  section  since  1886. 

5.  The  Conference  of  St.  Francis  was  organized  in  1879 
among  the  seminarians;  its  members  assembled  weekly  to 
discuss  subjects  pertaining  to  philosophy,  ecclesiastical 
history,  dogmatic  and  moral  theology,  and  liturgy.  Its 
president  was  the  professor  of  theology,  P.  Francis  Mersh- 
man.  No  mention  is  made  of  the  Conference  in  cata- 
logues after  1879. 

6.  Another  literary  society,  that  styled  itself  the  Phil- 
opolernic,  was  organized  in  the  seminary  in  1888,  but  did 
not  succeed  in  striking  roots  deep  enough  to  secure  per- 
manence. In  1894  the  Concordia  association  came  into 
existence  in  the  seminary,  its  general  features  being  the 
same  as  those  of  the  earlier  organization.  The  members 
published  a  monthly  which  was  multiplied  by  hectographic 
process.  No  mention  is  made  of  the  Concordia  in  the 
catalogue  of  1897  nor  thereafter. 

7.  The  Thespian  Club  was  organized  November  1891 
and  lived  about  five  years.  It  was  replaced  in  1901  by  St. 
John's  U.  Dramatic  Association, 

8.  Two  reading  circles  —  the  St.  Charles  and  the  Irving 
—  flourished  for  some  time  during  the  final  years  of  last 
century. 

9.  The  newest  arrival  in  the  literary  field  is  the  St. 
Thomas  Aquinas  Literary  Association   organized   in  the 


148  St.    John's    University 

Seminary  in  1904  by  P.  Bernard  Kevenhoerster,  who  has 
been  its  president  since  that  time.  In  the  same  year  the 
;S'/.  Johii's  Seminary  Reading  Circle  was  formed. 

10.  In  fall  1906  the  Commercial  Reading  Club  was  or- 
ganized; it  supports  a  reading  room  with  about  40  papers 
and  magazines  and  meets  regularly  for  debates.  Its  mod- 
erator is  P.  Kilian  Heid. 

III.  Musical. 

To  what  extent  music  was  taught  at  old  St.  John's  is 
rather  difficult  to  determine  at  present;  at  all  events  a 
piano  was  purchased  in  1862  and  P.  Wolfgang  Northman, 
a  skilful  musician,  gave  music  lessons.  The  only  mus- 
ical organization  which  can  be  traced  down  to  1868  is  the 
brass  band,  or  more  proi^erly  the  German  Silver  band,  as 
the  instruments  were  m.ade  of  that  metal.  Under  the  di- 
rection of  P.  Wolfgang  Northman  the  band,  small  as  it 
was,  enjoyed  much  popularity.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother,  the  late  P.  Ulric,  who  was  also  an  accomplished 
musician  and  directed  the  Band  till  1888,  when  P.  John 
Katzner  became  leader.  In  1877  its  membership  was  14. 
In  1882  a  complete  set  of  new  brass  instruments  was  pur- 
chased, gradually  reed  instruments  were  introduced.  The 
largest  membership  late  in  the  last  century  was  28.  With 
the  growth  of  the  orchestra,  the  band  by  degrees  was 
moved  to  second  place  and  since  1900  has  ceased  to  exist 
as  a  permanent  organization. 

The  forerunners  of  the  Orchestra  were  the  Haydn 
String  Quartette  in  1877  and  a  quintette  in  1885.  Under 
the  leadership  of  the  late  P.  Norbert  Hofbauer  an  orches- 
tra of  twelve  pieces  was  organized  for  the  Alumni  reunion 
held  in  June  1886  and  this  organization  survives  to  the 
present  day,  with  a  slight  interruption  in  1894.  When  P. 
Edmund  succeeded  P.  Norbert  as  director  in  1900,the  mem- 
bership was  20,  a  number  which  it  still  maintains.     It  has 


St.    John's    University  149 

a  fairly  large  repertory,  as  it  is  called  upon  to  assist  at  al- 
most all  public  entertainments  throughout  the  scholastic 
year. 

From  time  to  time  other  small  instrumental  organiza- 
tions were  formed  which,  however,  lived  too  short  a  time 
to  merit  a  detailed  account. 

No  mention  of  singing  societies  is  made  in  the  catalog- 
ues before  1892,  when  a  Liederkranz  existed.  Previous 
to  that  no  fixed  organization  existed  —  for  secular  music. 
Glee  clubs  and  quartettes  were  repeatedly  formed,  but  none 
lived  very  long.  Whenever  songs  were  required  for  pub- 
lic occasions,  the  church  choirs  took  the  matter  in  hand. 
Since  1900  there  have  been  several  successful  quartettes 
both  in  the  collegiate  and  seminary  departments  under 
direction  of  P.  Louis  Traufler  and  Richard  Simmer. 

In  the  early  days  church  music  was  much  of  the  same 
character  as  was  found  in  the  churches  of  the  country  and 
the  compositions  of  Lambilotte,  Schmidt  and  Werner  were 
in  much  demand.  When  the  Cecilian  reform  reached  the 
West  in  the  early  '70's  it  secured  some  patrons  at  St. 
John's.  The  choir  composed  of  clerics  and  seminarians 
sang  Cecilian  music  exclusively.  Still  the  student  choir  ad- 
hered to  the  old  school  and  it  was  only  in  the  '90s  that  both 
Cecilian  music  and  Gregorian  chant  were  adopted  as  the 
correct  forms  of  ecclesiastical  chant,  chiefly  through  the 
efforts  of  P.  Stanislaus  Preiser  and  the  late  P.  Norbert 
Hofbauer.  Since  1890  the  students'  choir  has  been  direct- 
ed successively  by  P.  Stanislaus,  P.  Edmund  Basel,  P. 
Louis  Traufler  and  P.  Richard  Simmer.  The  members 
are  instructed  in  modern  and  choral  notation  and  have 
besides,  two  rehearsals  every  week.  The  organists  are  P. 
Innocent  Gertken  and  Fr.  Norbert  Gertken. 

IV.  Athletic. 

One  of  the  earliest  forms  of  sport  indulged  in  here  was 
boating  and  fishing.     Very  naturally,  for  the  country  round 


150  St.    John's    University 

was  covered  with  forests  or  stumps  and  in  default  of  a  cam- 
pus the  lake  was  resorted  to.  It  would  be  a  mistake  to  sup- 
pose that  the  alumni  of  that  day  yearned  for  anything 
more;  national  games  were  scarcely  known.  Boat  clubs 
were  formed  by  the  students;  they  purchased  a  serviceable 
row-boat  and  kept  it  in  repair  from  year  to  year  until  it 
fell  to  pieces.  In  the  catalogues  may  be  found  the  names 
of  many  of  the  old  boats,  the  Germania,  Little  Fraud, 
Gem,  Argo,  Hiawatha  etc.  In  1886  the  institution  began 
to  build  the  boats  and  nominal  clubs  were  formed.  After 
1895  the  clubs,  too,  disappeared  and  to  this  day  no  organ- 
ization exists,  a  trifling  fee  being  required  of  students  who 
wish  to  use  the  boats  on  recreation  days. 

There  is  evidence  that  base  ball  was  played  as  early  as 
1868.  Mention  of  a  ball  team  is  made  for  the  first  time  in 
the  catalogue  of  1874;  P.  Leo   Winter  was   its   president. 

These  clubs  were  re-organized  every  year  and  generally 
took  a  new  name  such  as  Invincibles,  Athletics,  Crusaders, 
Manhattans.  Later  on  the  inappropriateness  of  many  of 
these  names  apparently  struck  the  teams  and  they  con- 
tented themselves  with  the  technical  designation  of 
"nines." 

Football  was  played  after  a  free-for-all  fashion,  and 
generally  on  the  ice,  since  the  early  '70's,  and  only  since 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century  have  the  approv- 
ed forms  been  cultivated  by  the  Athletic  Association. 
Lawn  tennis  and  handball  also  have  been  in  vogue  since 
1890.  Bowling,  too,  has  been  a  favorite  sport.  At  present 
there  is  a  double  alley  in  the  basement  of  the  gyainasium, 
and  a   handball  alley  and  tennis  court  near  the  campus. 

Sports  for  the  last  seven  years  have  been  carried  on 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Athletic  Association,  which  was 
founded  1900.  Following  is  a  record  of  the  principal 
games  played  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
with  scores: 


St.    John's    University 


151 


1899-1900 

Baseball: 

S. 

J. 

u. 

12 

St.  Cloud  High  School 

11 

(< 

4 

<( 

14 

1900-1901 

Football: 

S, 

J. 

u. 

lost  2  games  to  the  St.  Cloud  H.  S. 

Baseball: 

(( 

lost 

one  to  St.  Cloud  High, 

9-4 

(( 

WOE 

L  one  from         " 

16-8 

1901-1902 

Football: 

S 

.J. 

u. 

won 

the  collegiate  championship  of 

Minnesota. 

Representative  games: 

s. 

J. 

U. 

11 

St.  Cloud  High 

6 

u 

17 

Normal 

6 

(( 

11 

High 

0 

u 

15 

St.  Thomas  College 

6 

Baseball: 

(( 

14 

St.  Cloud  High 

1 

(( 

5 

"         professionals 

6 

1902-1903 

Football: 

s 

.J. 

U. 

0 

St.  Cloud  Normal 

17 

Basketbali 

jI 

u 

17 

Sauk  Centre 

25 

u 

15 

St.  Cloud  Normal 

16 

Baseball: 

(( 

7 

St.  Cloud  High 

5 

a 

3 

Sauk  Centre 

1 

1903-1904 

Football : 

s 

.J. 

u. 

5 

St.  Cloud  Normal 

0 

« 

0 

"        High 

12 

(t 

5 

Normal 

17 

Basketball 

(( 

19 

((                        u 

11 

(( 

65 

Melrose 

13 

(( 

68 

Sauk  Centre 

15 

(( 

21 

Normals 

11 

Baseball: 

a 

11 

St.  Cloud  High 

5 

a 

9 

a                   u 

1 

(t 

16 

Little  Falls 

1 

152 


St.     John's    University 


19 

'04-1905 

Football: 

it 

46 

St.  Cloud  High 

0 

i. 

18 

'*         Normal 

0 

u 

0 

a                   u 

26 

Basketball: 

(( 

48 

N.  D.  Agr.  College 

29 

u 

42 

Normals 

5 

n 

19 

a 

17 

Baseball: 

it 

6 

St.  Cloud  Bus.  College 

0 

a 

7 

Elk  Kiver 

6 

a 

24 

St.  Joe 

4 

• 

1905-1606 

Football:    S 

.J.  U. 

6 

St.  Cloud  Normal 

5 

Basketball: 

(( 

24 

N.  D.  Agr.  College 

14 

(< 

33 

Fargo  Athletic 

43 

a 

22 

N.  D.  Agr.  College 

29 

a 

52 

Mechanic  Arts 

20 

1906-1907 

Football:     S.  J.  U.    6  Blaine  H.  S.,  Superior          17 

64  Mechanic  Arts  St.  Paul          6 

Basketball:    won  State  intercollegiate  championship. 

S.  J.  U.  16  St.  Thomas  College              22 

61  Amateur  Athletic,  St.  Paul   9 

40  St.  Thomas  College              21 

59  U.  of  Minn.  Freshmen         11 

In  the  inter-hall  basket  ball  league  the  Elites  won  the 
silver  cup  from  the  Koyalists  by  a  score  of  23-18.  The 
cup  was  presented  at  the  entertainment  on  the  evening  of 
March  21. 

This  record  closes  with  Easter  1907. 

V.  Alumni  Association. 

When  the  silver  jubilee  of  the  establishment  of  St. 
John's  was  celebrated  in  connection  with  the  consecration 
of  the  new  church  on  October  24,  1882,  the  alumni  present 


St.     John's     University  153 

met  on  the  day  following  the  solemnities  to  organize  an 
association  for  the  perpetuation  "of  the  bond  of  friend- 
ship formed  in  college  days,  to  advance  the  welfare,  spirit- 
ual and  temporal,  of  its  members  and  to  further  the  inter- 
ests of  Alma  Mater." 

At  the  organizing  meeting,  the  late  P.  Xavier  White  in 
the  chair,  the  following  officers  were  elected: 

Honorary  Pres. — Rt.  Rev.  Alexius  Edelbrock,0.  S.  B. 

President — Rev.  Jos.  B.  Cotter. 

Spiritual  Director:— Rev.  Xavier  White  O.  S.  B. 

Recording  Secretary: — Jos.  M.  Langan. 

Corresponding  Secretary: — Rev.  E.  J.  Lawler. 

Treasurer: — Alphonse  Demeules. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  frame  a  constitution  and 
by-laws,  with  instructions  to  report  at 

The  first  regular  meeting,  June  26.  1888.  The  constitu- 
tion and  by-laws  were  adopted  and  ordered  printed. 

The  second  regular  meeting  was  held  June  22,  1886  in 
the  present  assembly  hall,  then  still  unfinished.  The  most 
delightful  features  of  the  gathering  were  the  banquet  and 
speeches. 

The  third  meeting  was  held  August  28,  1890  on  the  day 
following  the  installation  of  the  late  Abbot  Bernard  Locnik- 
ar.  On  this  occasion  Mr.  M.  Nugent,  *81,  was  elected  Pres- 
ident. 

Close  upon  the  heels  of  this  meeting  followed  the  fourth, 
on  July  21  and  22,  1891.  To  ensure  a  better  attendance, 
local  branches  of  the  association  had  been  organized  dur- 
ing spring  at  St.  Cloud,  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis.  Each 
branch  sent  a  strong  delegation.  At  the  meeting  Mr.  L. 
J.  Demeules,  '70,  was  elected  President,  and  Rev.  A. 
Christie,  Spiritual  Director.  Scarcely  less  enthusiastic 
was  the  gathering  held  July  12  and  13,  1892,  at  which  also 
a  new  local  branch,  that  of  Duluth-West  Superior  was 
represented.  Mr.  L.  J.  Demeules  was  re-elected  President 
of  the  Association. 


154  St.    John's    University 

On  July  10,  1895,  the  day  previous  to  the  installation  of 
Abbot  Peter  Engel  the  sixth  re-union  was  held,  at  which 
Mr.  G.  Mitsch,  Jr.  of  St.  Paul  was  chosen  President. 

Five  years  elapsed  before  another  meeting  was  held. 
The  seventh  reunion  took  place  July  18  and  19,  1900,  and 
in  numbers  outstripped  any  of  the  previous  gatherings. 

The  eighth  re-union  took  place  on  June  29,  1904;  it 
coincided  with  the  silver  jubilee  of  Kt.  Rev.  Abbot  Peter 
Engel's  ordination.  Again  a  new  branch,  that  of  Western 
Stearns  County,  was  represented  for  the  first  time.  On 
this  occasion  most  of  the  exercises  were  conducted  in  the 
new  gymnasium  and  the  alumni  had  an  opportunity  to 
mark  the  progress  of  the  institution  since  the  primitive 
days  and  conditions  of  1867.  The  officers  elected  in  1904 
and  holding  office  at  the  present  time  are: 

President: — Charles  F.  Ladner,  St.  Cloud. 

Vice  Presidents  (and  Presidents  of  the  respective  local 
branches:)  Wm.  Hoy,  Minneapolis;  John  Heider,  Duluth; 
Rev.  Leo  Winter,  Western  Stearns  Co.;  John  Venne,  St. 
Paul;  John  A.  Ahmann,  St.  Cloud. 

Recording  Secretary: — F.  A.  Gross,  Minneapolis. 

Treasurer: — Wm.  Bohmer,  Melrose, 

Spiritual  Director: — Rev.  George  Arctander. 

It  is  expected  that  a  large  number  of  alumni  will  par- 
ticipate in  the  jubilee  exercises  toward  the  end  of  June  of 
the  present  year,  1907,  to  mark  the  passing  of  the  fiftieth 
milestone. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


Conclusion. 


After  fifty  years  of  patient  work  and  struggle,  the  insti- 
tution looks  complacently  over  the  work  accomplished  and 
hopefully  into  the  future.  The  rewards  of  toil  are  visible 
on  every  hand.  From  a  tiny  frame  building  on  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi  it  has  grown  into  a  vast  edifice  second 
to  few,  if  any,  in  the  State  of  Minnesota.  However,  it  is 
not  this  material  growth  that  must  be  considered  a  gauge 
of  the  success  of  the  institution.  For  fifty  years  it  has  en- 
deavored to  meet  the  wants  of  the  youth  of  this  new  region 
by  affording  them  an  opportunity  of  acquiring  an  educa- 
tion for  secular  pursuits  as  well  as  for  the  ministry.  True 
to  the  intentions  of  its  founders  and  the  character  of  the 
men  in  whose  hands  its  destinies  rested,  it  has  aimed  to  be 
a  Catholic  school  in  spirit  and  deed. 

Today  the  work  presided  over  by  the  faculty  is  very 
extensive  and  34  professors  and  disciplinarians  devote 
themselves  to  the  task.  A  Preparatory  course  fits  students 
for  the  Classical  and  Commercial  course.  A  Classical 
Course  of  six  years  comprising  the  study  of  Religion, 
Latin,  Greek,  English,  German,  History,  Geography  both 
physical  and  political,  Mathematics,  and  elective  branches 
such  as  Physiology,  Chemistry,  Geology,  Astronomy, 
Botany,  Zoology  and  French,  prepares  the  student  for  any 
of  the  learned  professions.  The  Scientific  course  with  the 
facilities  for  the  study  of  Physics,  Electricity,  Biology  and 
Astronomy,  Drawing  and  kindred  branches  bears  witness 

155 


156  St.    John's    University 

to  the  fact  that  an  effort  is  made  to  furnish  advantageous 
opportunities  for  keeping  in  touch  with  the  progress  of 
the  world  in  scientific  matters.  For  almost  thirty  years  a 
Commercial  course  has  been  connected  with  the  college- 
Not  least  in  importance  is  the  Theological  Seminary  which 
if  small  in  numbers,  is  efficient  in  work  and  has  given  the 
sacred  ministry  many  members.  The  total  attendance  in 
all  the  courses  in  1907,  as  has  been  stated  above,  was 
slightly  in  excess  of  300.  It  is  not  expected  that  this 
figure  will  grow  notably  in  the  near  future  owing  to  the 
increasing  number  of  educational  institutions  rising  on  all 
sides,  still  it  is  an  encouraging  number  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

Our  Alumni?  For  a  half -century  from  year  to  year, 
some  alumni  went  forth  to  take  up  arms  in  the  wider  field 
of  action;  what  has  become  of  them?  The  snows  and  in- 
firmities of  advancing  years  are  upon  some  of  them  nowr 
and  many  of  them  have  laid  down  the  arms  of  toil  and  rest 
in  memory  only.  It  will  be  impossible  in  the  space  of  a 
few  pages  to  recall  all  those  of  whose  career  the  institution 
has  had  occasion  to  take  notice;  hence  this  sketch  will 
confine  itself  to  a  limited  range.  To  begin  with  the  Sem- 
inary. From  1867  to  1896  the  institution  prepared  for  the 
sacred  ministry  204  candidates,  82  of  these  being  Bene- 
dictines and  122  members  of  the  secular  clergy.*  At 
present  the  whole  number  is  335  of  whom  132  are  Benedict- 
ines and  203  secular  clergymen  or  members  of  other  re- 
ligious orders.  This  number  may  appear  small  for  fifty 
years,  but  St.  John's  has  been  only  a  private  Seminary. 
Of  its  graduates,  only  one  has  been  decorated  with  epis- 
copal honors,  the  Eight  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Cotter,  of  Winona, 
Minn.  The  priests  who  have  gone  forth  from  the  Sem- 
inary chiefly  labor  in  the  West,  in  the  States  of  Minneso- 
ta, Wisconsin,  Iowa,  North  and  South  Dakota  and  Nebras- 
ka. One,  Rt.  Rev.  Edward  Nagl,  vicar  general  of  the 
*  American  Ecclestical  Review,  XVII.  p.  289. 


St.    John's    University  157 

diocese  of  St.  Cloud,  was  created  a  domestic  prelate  with 
the  title  and  insignia  of  a  monsignor  by  Pope  Leo  XIII  in 
1901,  and  V.  Rev.  Martin  Noesen,  '96,  is  the  present  vicar 
general  of  the  diocese  of  Lead,  S.  D.  Rev.  F.  X.  Stemper, 
former  vicar  general  of  the  apostolic  vicariate  of  Northern 
Minnesota,  y\ras  also  a  graduate  of  the  Seminary. 

The  graduates  in  the  other  courses  may  be  found  in  al- 
most any  of  the  numerous  walks  of  life,  —  some  of  them 
practise  law,  others  medicine;  some  are  prosperous  busi- 
ness men,  others  pursue  humbler  but  equally  useful  avoca- 
tions. Some  have  entered  other  schools  and  graduated  in 
higher  courses.  Thus  three  members  of  the  hierarchy  of 
the  L^nited  States,  the  Most  Rev.  Alexander  Christie, 
archbishop  of  Oregon  City,  Rt.  Rev.  John  Shanley,  bishop 
of  Fargo  and  Rt.  Rev.  James  J.  Keane,  bishop  of  Chey- 
enne, studied  their  classics  at  St.  John's  and  received 
their  theological  education  elsewhere.  In  the  State  legis- 
lature of  1907  were  three  alumni  of  St.  John's  —  Senators 
J.  C.  Hardy,  J.  E.  C.  Robinson  and  J.  J.  Ahmann. 

Under  God,  the  success  of  this  work  was  undoubtedly 
due  in  great  part  to  the  well  directed  efiPort  of  the  faculty, 
and  it  is  with  pride  we  recall  the  memory  of  those  kind 
and  earnest  professors  who  have  ceased  from  toil  and  gone 
to  their  reward.  Nor  must  the  patrons  and  benefactors 
of  the  institution  be  forgotten.  First  of  all,  in  order  of 
time,  were  the  first  two  bishops  of  St.  Paul,  Rt.  Revs.  Jos. 
Cretin  and  Thomas  Grace,  and  subsequently  the  bishops 
of  St.  Cloud,  Otto  Zardetti,  Martin  Marty  O.  S.  B.  and 
James  Trobec,  each  of  whom  gave  the  institution  sub- 
stantial proof  of  his  interest.  Moreover,  a  great  debt  of 
gratitude  is  due  to  the  Rev.  clergy  of  this  and  neighbor- 
ing states  and  to  the  generous  donors  of  medals  since  1880. 
Among  these  donors  have  been  Bishops  Seidenbusch,  Zar- 
detti, Marty,  Trobec  and  Shanley,  Mgrs.  J.  Bauer  and  E. 
Nagl,  St.  Cloud,  Revs.  C.  V.  Gamache,  E.  J.  Lawlor, 
F.  Goebel,  P.  Cary,  M.  Noesen,  G.  Gaskell,F.  X.  Stemper, 


158  St.    John's    University 

D.  Lynch;  Messrs.  L.  W.  Collins,  D.  B.  Searle,  H.  C. 
Waite,  J.  W.  Arctander,  J.  J.  Hill,  Th.  Bmenner,  F.  E. 
Searle,  J.  Caulfield,  S.  Wimmer,  M.  Maurin,  J.  Hoeschen 
and  the  Alumni  Association. 

The  Golden  Jubilee  will  gather  to  the  bosom  of  Alma 
Mater  representatives  of  every  schoolyear,  from  every  part 
of  the  Union  and  the  event  will  be  one  memorable  forever 
in  the  annals  of  the  institution.  Then  memory  will  carry 
them  back  to  the  scenes  and  places  hallowed  by  the  light 
of  youth,  they  will  tell  of  the  little  trials  and  struggles  en- 
countered in  their  college  days  and  go  forth  strengthened 
anew  to  take  upon  themselves  the  responsibilities  of  life 
and  fulfill  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  fitted  by  their 
education.  God  speed  their  efforts  and  perpetuate  their 
success ! 


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